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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Gavin McCafferty

Steven Naismith bemoans Hearts' lack of concentration after Hibs draw

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith bemoaned the 90-second spell which cost his team what he felt would have been a deserved win against Hibernian.

The hosts were 2-0 up with just over 30 minutes to play before a quick-fire double from Elie Youan saw the game end 2-2 at Tynecastle.

And Naismith was left frustrated at full-time. “We put so much into the game and for large parts it was a really good performance,” he said.

“We carried a threat, the chances we had were really good, scored two good goals, and the biggest disappointment is we have given up two goals in the space of a minute-and-a-half that has ultimately cost us three points in what would have been a very good performance.

“I think over time we will look at the performance and be positive but decision-making when it goes 2-1, you can question, and ultimately our defending has cost us.”

Naismith felt the impressive Alex Lowry was tiring as he explained his decision to take the midfielder off in the 62nd minute and replace him with the more defensive-minded Beni Baningime.

Naismith added: “The game was getting a bit more stretched, we weren’t keeping the ball when we should be, because they were committing more bodies forward and it started getting end to end. We didn’t want to lose control of it.

“But ultimately it’s a minute-and-a-half of poor decision-making and defending that has cost us.”

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