'We weren't good enough,' admits Hearts boss Derek McInnes after Tynecastle draw

Hearts manager Derek McInnes admitted his side simply weren’t good enough to take maximum points against Dundee United after a 1-1 draw saw his side’s advantage at the top of the Premiership cut to seven points.

The Gorgie men took the lead midway through the first half at Tynecastle thanks to a Yevhen Kucherenko own goal, before Luca Stephenson levelled for the visitors shortly before the interval.

McInnes lamented his side’s inability to take control during what was an end-to-end contest but refused to criticise his players, who have yet to suffer defeat in the top flight this season.

‘I thought we didn’t deserve any more than the point we got,’ he said.  ‘A combination of quite a lot of things meant we weren’t quite at our best.

‘I think it’s difficult to be too critical. We’ve hit 30 points already, we’re in the second week of November and we’re still unbeaten.

‘There’s no doubting that we came here with high expectations to get three points, and I’ve got to accept we weren’t good enough.

‘Normally we have far more control of that at home and away. We have a bit more poise in our play.

‘I thought we were a wee bit emotional in the second half, a wee bit excitable. I thought we played last-five-minute football for 35, 40 minutes and we need a bit more trust in what we’re trying to do.

‘I said to the players at the end of the game, it feels like a defeat. And there’s nothing wrong with that. A draw should feel like a defeat at Tynecastle.’

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin was delighted to see his side bounce back from a lacklustre defeat at Motherwell last time out.

‘I thought it was a really good all-round performance,’ he said. ‘I’m pleased with the point, but I think on the balance of play, with the chances created, we could have actually won this game.’