Hearts don't care how they beat Hibs: Derek McInnes discusses a ballboy taser and praises players

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes admitted he couldn’t care less that the Edinburgh derby lacked quality because all that matters is beating Hibs. Tomas Magnusson’s instinctive 88th-minute goal won the match for Hearts in dramatic fashion on a night when quality football came at a premium, but McInnes insisted he is not remotely bothered that the game was a battle throughout.

The hosts found themselves needing to dig deep for victory and produced the required courage to fight through some uncomfortable periods in the second half. They moved six points clear atop the Premiership as a result. They beat Hibs 1-0 with Craig Halkett’s stoppage-time strike in October and this was a similar outcome with a different goalscorer. Harry Milne’s late cross led to Magnusson’s smart finish, sparking wild scenes of celebration around Tynecastle Park with investor Tony Bloom in attendance. McInnes himself ran down the touchline to celebrate with a ballboy as he has done before after goals this season.

“I know, I think his mother and father have got a taser for me,” joked the manager. “I really need to leave him alone. There’s fear in his eyes when I run towards him. We're all the same, we just have that sheer elation. I actually thought there was still a wee bit more longer to go, I was a bit delighted when I realised there was only a few minutes left. I thought there was still about seven or eight minutes, and then we still had to navigate the extra-time. Thankfully we managed to keep the danger away for the goal, and get the all-important three points.”

Having handed Kazakh winger Islam Chesnokov a surprise start in the match, McInnes was delighted with the recent signing’s endeavour as he worked tirelessly for the cause. Chesnokov had been taking time to work on his fitness in recent weeks. “There was one late on where he got caught a wee bit in the far corner, and then his sprint,” said McInnes. “I don't know which top speed would have been there, considering what he'd already put in to get back and recover the situation. The reason he plays tonight ahead of others is because his defensive work is on point, as well as that attack threat.

“I want to play 4-4-2 as much as I can, that wide-right position has been a problem for me, and I trust him to play against [Nicky] Cadden with his defensive work. He was unlucky. He was in good areas in the first half to try and be a wee bit more threatening with his work with the ball, but he'll never have played any game like that. He's not just starting out in his career, he's got a lot of experience, but I've seen a difference in the last week or so.

“We had this one in mind for him, potentially, and he's slowly but surely getting stronger. I think he enjoyed that, to see Tynecastle at the end, similarly when Craig Halkett scored [against Hibs in October], was brilliant. It's good for the new players to see it like that as well. It was agood night's work for us. It’s good to send the fans home happy. We accept we can be better, but we've played better in lost games, and played better in no-win games, but it's all about the win, in particular at this stage of the season, and in particular in a derby.”

Hearts’ title challenge continues at Ibrox on Sunday as the Gorgie side look to continue momentum. “I think, to be fair, I think supporters will probably feel the way I do, that there's something going to happen,” said McInnes. “We can recognise that we're not always great, and I've said this, and I'm not pretending we're great, but you don't stay at the top of the league with just having desire.

“The desire is there in spades but we normally can play better, and we normally have far more pressure. We normally get more goalscoring opportunities but, even if we don't play well, we still think there's something there for us. Thankfully, big Tomas came up with that tonight.”

McInnes also reserved special praise for Milne’s energy levels late in the game to provide Magnusson’s assist. “I wasn't really enjoying the game, but it's my job not to feel anxious or whatever,” said the manager. “It's my job to just try and help the lads find a way [to win]. Obviously, with Harry, you're wanting people to come up with moments. That's what you should be writing about. That's what you should be talking about: Harry Milne's desire, late in the game, when he's ran his race and he's absolutely piped, and he gets to the byline, beats their wing-back, hands up.

“He put in a quality across and it gives us a chance to get to the end of something. That wasn't there enough. I thought our set-plays were rotten tonight. I thought some of our crossing was poor. I thought when the ball was dead from free-kicks, throw-ins, corners, it wasn't good enough. We need to look at that side of it, but there's a lot on that for the lads tonight. Like I say, there's a lot of players playing in that type of environment for the first time. How many times have you seen successful Celtic teams, successful Rangers teams - because they've been the teams over the while that win leagues - and they just get the job done. They win 1-0 and they move on.”

Magnusson’s partner is expecting their first child any day, which is a slight concern as Hearts prepare for a trip to Ibrox this weekend. “We think the baby will hopefully come before the weekend,” said the manager. “He's a young man, he's over here with his partner, it's been a big upheaval for him, but he has shown such a maturity. That’s another important goal for us. He's done ever so well for us whether he starts or not. I thought he was good at Tannadice, I thought he was good against Celtic.

“He’s a bit unfortunate not to be starting the games, but obviously Beni Baningime has come back into the team. Beni has big experience for these games so I was always mindful of that. It's a busy time in Tomas’ life, an important period in his life, and he's going to become a dad, which is brilliant for him. We just hope everything goes okay in that front.”

Hearts changed from a four-man defence to a back three for the second half as wingers Islam Chesnokov and Alexandros Kyziridis were asked to play as wing-backs. McInnes made multiple changes to his team during the second half, including introducing Magnusson. “Yeah, obviously we've got players there who, like your Bragas and your Kyziridis, they've got that wee bit of credit in the bank and can provide that special moment. Sometimes you keep them on that wee bit of longer just because you hope that happens.

“I wanted to bring Tomas on to give a bit more goal threat from midfield, because obviously Beni and Marc Leonard play a wee bit more behind the ball. Bringing Ageu and Tomas on was just to try and give us a wee bit more threat in behind in that final third. We've got good players. Ageu's getting closer to things and he's getting a bit more stronger with his work. I think he's going to be an important player - as they all will between now and the end of the season.”