Hearts edged out Ross County 2-1 in their Premiership opener to start the season with three points.
A sold-out Tynecastle crowd roared Robbie Neilson's men onto the pitch but it was the Staggies who looked far the better team in an impressive 45 minutes. Dominic Samuel was first to rattle the post before Owura Edwards danced by two Jambos and crashed a great effort off the crossbar. Alan Forrest had Hearts' best chance of the game shortly after the second half restart but a stubborn County side refused to budge.
Eventually Forrest made them do so, a great Alex Cochrane ball across the boss turned in by the former Livingston winger on his competitive debut. Slowly from there did the home team take control and Barrie McKay looked to have ensured it was job done with a great mazy run. Jordan White halved the deficit to make it a nervy end but a Hearts win still arrived. Here are three things we learned from the match.
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Digging it out
They say the sign of a good team is one that can dig out a result even when it isn't firing on all cylinders.
Ross County in the first half could have been a couple goals ahead at least but Hearts hung on and eventually when their first big chances came, they took them both. That clinical touch is going to be key if they are to retain third place like last season.
Injury problem
Atkinson was given a torrid time by the pace of County's forward line in the time he was on the park but it appeared clear why.
He pulled up with a muscle injury midway through the first half to give Neilson a potential injury problem in the right-wing-back role. Michael Smith managed to fill in well after starting the game in midfield.
Home factor
It's an old cliché that the fans are a 12th man but Tynecastle is not going to be a place many people fancy coming to this season.
A sold-out home support roared their team on to every tackle and it added to an already jubilant mood as competitive football returned. It does make a difference, as tension was felt as the game remained 0-0, but joy was found in Forrest's goal.
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