Derek McInnes says disappointment after draw with Celtic shows how far Hearts have come

Derek McInnes felt the belief in his title-chasing squad was again apparent as they refused to succumb to a first home defeat of the league season at Tynecastle.

Claudio Braga’s late strike ensured Hearts drew 2-2 with Celtic and maintained their six-point lead over them with just 15 matches now remaining.

And although his side were disappointed not to extend that margin to nine with a third victory of the campaign against the champions, McInnes felt the display was another encouraging one.

Asked if his side believed they would win the match, McInnes said: ‘I think the belief’s been there for a while, to be fair.

‘I think we turned up today, certainly myself and the players, I think we turned up believing we can win the day.

‘There is obviously a bit of disappointment that we haven’t. Obviously, you need a lot of things to go your way.

Hearts striker Claudio Braga scores a late equaliser in Hearts’ draw with Celtic at Tynecastle 

Braga celebrates the goal that keeps leaders Hearts six points ahead of Celtic in the table

‘Celtic have shown a couple of moments of quality to get their goals. But throughout the game, I thought we looked strong.

‘I thought we looked confident with our work. We needed to bring a bit of calmness to it at the right times.

‘There has to be a bit of ice and put your foot on the ball. I thought Marc Leonard was terrific in that sense, because it was a difficult start for him from a debut.

‘But I think it tells you a lot about the boy, and the personality, that he kept taking it and he put his foot on the ball.

‘He was very important to us, just to link that back lot to a front lot. I thought he was very influential. We are going to enjoy working with him.

‘But throughout the team, I don’t think any Hearts player out there, subs or boys starting, felt that we weren’t going to win the game. That pleases me no end.’

Although a resurgent Rangers side moved to within four points of Hearts with a victory over Dundee, McInnes feels his side are still in an enviable position.

“I’m delighted where we are,’ he stressed. ‘We’ve been there a while now. It’s more than four months. It’s not a purple patch, as I said last week.

‘It’s something that we’re comfortable with. I’m enjoying where we are. We’re well aware there’s big clubs and good teams desperate to be where we are.

‘We’ve got to be ready for that challenge as we go along. I’ve said all along, I think we’re going to have to keep improving. I believe there’s wins in us. If the fans keep that connection with the team today, who knows where it can take us.’

While McInnes was pleased to come away with a share of the spoils, he was left to rue the two chances which Alexandros Kyziridis missed either side of half-time.

‘Kyziridis was bright and sharp throughout,’ he recalled. ‘But again, by his standards, you expect him to hit the back of the net.

‘And that’s sometimes the way it is. But if we take those chances and show a bit more calmness, and show a bit more quality, then I think we win the game. At least we’ve put ourselves in a position to win it.

‘We’re disappointed we haven’t. But a point and how the game played out, coming from behind twice against a team of Celtic’s quality, regardless of their exploits on Thursday night, I still think in the cold light of day, it’s not the worst point when you come from behind.

‘But we just felt it was a wee bit more out there for us. (Blair) Spittal hitting the bar at the end. Chances we had. That’s why we’re a bit disappointed. It’s a bit of a disappointed dressing room that we’ve not won the game.

‘It probably illustrates how far we’ve come, that we’re feeling that.

”The one thing that I’m annoyed about is that we didn’t keep it at 1-1 for longer.’

McInnes felt the decision to show Auston Trusty a red card was the right one in the end.

‘I’ve not seen it again,’ he admitted. ‘My take on it is, and I think what the fourth official said to me, is that they needed to be sure that (Landry) Kabore would get a shot away.

‘My thought was, ‘he’s definitely going to get a shot away’. He broke the line. Celtic don’t get red cards domestically. It was a bit of a shock when VAR turned it and made it a red. But for me it looked like a red card offence.’

Asked to explain why he ended up in the visiting dug-out after Celtic’s opener, McInnes smiled: ‘That’s one place I’ll not be going! So, for me, nothing to do with Martin (O’Neill) or Shaun (Maloney).

‘It was just one of the inexperienced coaches who got a bit carried away. That’s all I’ve got to say on it.’

McInnes confirmed that Rogers Mato is due to join the club this week from Vardar.

‘I hope he finds the net quicker than he finds the UK. But he should be in this week,’ he said.