IT was not surprising that Robbie Neilson, the Hearts manager, was more keen to look forward rather than reflect on this hard-fought victory over Ross County.
The Gorgie side rode their luck during a lacklustre first half display that saw the visitors twice strike the frame of the goal.
However, Hearts ultimately emerged as victors following a vastly improved second half showing that saw debutant Alan Forrest and Barrie McKay find the net before Jordan White added a consolation for County.
Neilson then said the dressing room debrief effectively all turned to next weekend’s trip to Edinburgh rivals Hibernian.
“It sets it up nicely and I’m looking forward to it,” said Neilson.
“I like the derbies coming early, it gives us a chance to go down there and hopefully get three points and that would give us a massive lift.
“We spoke in the dressing room after - ten seconds on today and then the rest of it was on next week and making sure we’re ready for it.”
Neilson put his team’s underwhelming first half performance down to a lack of competitive action.
He added: “We showed the rustiness of coming into competitive games from pre-season.
“One of the plus sides of being in Europe is you can build into pre-season.
“But one of the downsides is you’re not involved in the Premier Sports Cup, which I like because you can come in and play four games and it’s competitive.”
The home fans paid homage to former favourite Drew Busby with a striking tifo that took up the entire Wheatfield stand after the ex-Jambos attacking midfielder recently passed away.
A minute silence also took place.
But Busby, renowned for his commitment and work ethic, would probably not have approved of the first half performance. Hearts were a yard off the pace and were fortunate not to find themselves behind at the recess.
Malky Mackay’s side created no less than four great chances. The first arrived after ten minutes when Jordy Hiwula Mayifuila dragged his effort wide from a good position.
Hearts right-back Nat Atkinson then got contact on Hiwula Mayifuila’s shot inside the area to divert the effort over the bar.
The Staggies kept up the pressure and were denied by the frame of the goal twice within two minutes. Dominic Samuel saw his glancing header come back off the upright before Craig Gordon got down to Josh Sims’ effort on the rebound.
The lively Owura Edwards then skipped past Atkinson before seeing his dipping shot from 18 yards strike the bar.
The home fans were growing restless at how this game was panning out and the sight of Hiwula Mayifuila having a deflected shot punched away by Gordon did little to assuage their unease.
Hearts, however, did great their best chance of the half in injury-time. Alex Cochrane cut a pass back for Barrie McKay but the unmarked winger miscued his left-footed drive from 12 yards and the ball bounced harmlessly wide.
It was clear Hearts would not allow the first half display to repeat itself.
Forrest was one spark during the opening 45 minutes and the former Livingston forward came close to breaking the deadlock.
After turning back onto his left-foot, Forrest had an effort from inside the area turned off the line by Connor Randall.
But Forrest was not to be denied in the 59th minute after starting and finishing a fine move.
In a congested area on the edge of the box, Forrest found Jorge Grant and the midfielder laid the ball off for Cochrane.
Cochrane's square pass was then turned it by Forrest from close range.
Two goals were then traded inside two minutes. McKay put Hearts in a commanding position with a stunning solo goal in the 77th minute. After brilliantly bringing Cochrane’s long pass under control and evading Baldwin, the playmaker then exhibited a calmness to slot the ball beyond Ross Laidlaw.
But just when it seemed Hearts would see out the victory, the Staggies set up an exciting finish.
Baldwin’s ball over the top was picked up by White and the substitute rolled a shot through the legs of Gordon into the net.
With seven players making their league debuts, County manager Malky Mackay was understandably pleased with how his team took the game to Hearts in the opening 45 minutes.
"I'm proud of the players that we put in the performance today that we did,” said Mackay.
“I thought in the first half we were absolutely terrific, but I also knew with the amount of chances we had, where we hit the bar and the post as well as three or four great chances, that you've got to take them.
“If we'd gone in 2-0 ahead at half-time then I don't think that would have been an unfair score.
"You have to take them as I know that Hearts are clinical.”
