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Robbie Neilson encouraged by Hearts' top-flight performances

Robbie Neilson encouraged by Hearts' top-flight performances
© Reuters
The Jambos have taken 12 points from six league games so far.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson took "massive positives" after his team maintained their unbeaten start to the cinch Premiership campaign in Dingwall.

Neilson's side trailed at half-time after Ross County skipper Blair Spittal hit a double in response to Liam Boyce's early strike.

But Stephen Kingsley levelled midway through the second period to earn Hearts a 2-2 draw.

Both sides had chances for a winner in an entertaining encounter and although Hearts missed the chance to top the table on Saturday night, Neilson remains encouraged by his side's return to the top flight.

They now host Livingston and Motherwell in their next two games and Neilson wants them to utilise their home advantage.

"There's massive positives," he told Hearts TV. "Six games in, we are undefeated, we were sitting joint top of the league and we just need to keep trying to win games. We are playing good football, scoring goals and creating chances.

"The key thing for me is, if we don't win the game, we have to make sure we take a point and move on to the next one.

"Home games are so important for us this season, we have two coming up and we have to make sure we win those games.

"Coming away from home, we want to win every single one, but if we're not going to win it we take the point and move on."

County came close to a late winner when John Souttar cleared off the line from Joseph Hungbo and manager Malky Mackay also had plenty of plus points.

His side could not have had a tougher start to the season with the visit of unbeaten Hearts coming on the back of playing last season's top five.

Following a Covid-disrupted preparation and a major turnaround in players, a return of three points has given them a solid platform to build on.

"I have to give great credit to the players, they are taking on board the information we are giving them," Mackay told RCFCTV. "They are fit, because they are having to work as hard as they are for 90 minutes. They are looking organised.

"There are players making their debuts every week, Ashley Maynard-Brewer came in for his debut in goal and was fantastic. They will start to get to know each other better and settle in.

"We have played the top five and created good chances against Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs and Rangers."

On-loan Charlton goalkeeper Maynard-Brewer made several good saves after being given his chance ahead of Ross Laidlaw.

"We were delighted to get Ash," Mackay said. "He was just back from the Olympics with the Australian team but he came up and trained like a beast for his first six weeks and shown real quality. He has a big personality as well which is important for a goalkeeper.

"The first goal takes a huge deflection off Jack Baldwin and the second goal was real quality. Overall he was excellent."

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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic110082275581
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts101046341263
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren10013945-643
6Dundee10014556-1141
Relegation Group
1Hibernian11004752-542
2Aberdeen11003649-1338
3Motherwell10014652-637
4St Johnstone10012549-2431
5Ross County10013258-2630
6Livingston11002459-3521
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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