Steven Naismith summed up the 3-1 defeat in the William Hill Premiership at Dundee in two words: “Really bad.”
Hearts’ head coach saw his hand-picked squad go 3-0 down at Dens Park before the break and he told BBC Sport Scotland: “That was really disappointing.”
Naismith (pictured) said his men conceded cheap goals but added: “In the second half we created more chances.”
His opposite number, Tony Docherty, said: “That was almost a complete team performance. Deservedly, we went in 3-0 at the beak.”
Docherty conceded that Hearts are a good team but said: “Players executed the game plan to the letter and showed real bravery on the ball.”
More than 7,200 fans watched the action and Scott Tiffony fired the home side ahead after 23 minutes with two goals coming in first-half injury time.
The first was an own goal from Gerald Taylor, one of Hearts’ summer signings, and the other from a Luke McCowan penalty after Frankie Kent fouled Tiffony.
Kent pulled one back after 61 minutes with a close range header, but the visitors failed to add another before the final whistle despite enjoying 60 per cent of the possession during the match.
Hearts also had 14 shots against 11 from the home side and they had 31 touches in the box against 17. What’s more, the Jambos had ten corners against two from Dundee, but the statistic which really matters was the final scoreline, 3-1 in favour of Docherty’s men.
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