Robbie Neilson explains Hearts' third draw in a row as Neil McCann hopes Inverness made John Robertson proud

Robbie Neilson says Hearts must continue grinding out points as they moved 12 clear at the top of the Championship with a third successive draw.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson in the stand at Inverness with sporting director Joe Savage and club ambassador Gary Locke.

Liam Boyce’s first-half equaliser cancelled out Miles Storey’s opener for Inverness in the Highlands. That left frustrated Hearts with a 1-1 scoreline for the third game in a row following identical results against Queen of the South and Morton.

It was Neil McCann’s first match in charge of Inverness after manager John Robertson was given compassionate leave, and he praised the hosts’ performance afterwards.

Neilson wants Hearts to get back winning but declared that continuing to garner points is a must.

“A draw was probably a fair result in the end. It wasn’t the purest of games,” admitted Neilson. “They probably had the better chances in the first ten or 15 minutes and then we came into the game and had a few ourselves.

“It’s another draw. That’s three on the bounce now so we need to get back to winning ways. Hopefully we’ll do that next Saturday.

“I remember looking at it and we hadn’t drawn a game for the first 14 or 15. We were winning and now we’ve drawn, drawn, drawn.

"The important thing in this league is to continue picking up points. It’s a tough league. People look at it and think Hearts should be turning up and winning 2-0, 3-0, 4-0. It doesn’t work like that.

"We’re sitting 12 points clear – which is a great achievement for the players – it’s about continuing to get points. We’d like to win every week by a number of goals but sometimes it’s not like that.”

Asked about injuries to Michael Smith and Steven Naismith, Neilson replied: “I’m not sure how they are yet.”

McCann said Inverness committed to his ideas. “I’m hoping they made their manager proud. It’s not easy when a new guy comes in and asks you to do something different, but they all bought into it,” he explained.

“There’s no denying Hearts are the best team in the league but they changed for us. We didn’t have to adapt to them.

“I have only had one and a half sessions with them, but I don’t think anybody watching that would deny them a pat on the back for their work-rate. It was exceptional.”

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