How each new Hearts signing fared in Orient friendly

Liam Boyce opened the scoring early on, pouncing on a mistake from the opposition. The visitors drew level when Jordan Brown headed in a corner and went in front right after the break thanks to a simple finish from Diallang Jaiyesimi.

Steven Naismith used 22 players across the 90 minutes with the focus on developing match sharpness after a tough week of training in Tenerife. He told Hearts Standard earlier this summer that his focus is on how the team play and the positions they take up over results in pre-season.

All fans should remember it is still early in pre-season. But in saying that, here are some observations from Tynecastle Park and a look at each of the new boys who featured.

Daniel Oyegoke

The defender started on the right of the back four, playing the opening 45 minutes before being replaced by Aidan Denholm at right-back. The 21-year-old is a physically imposing presence and found himself tested occasionally in 1v1 battles but gave a good account of himself. The former Brentford player tended to drift infield when Hearts were in possession, freeing up space for Musa Drammeh to operate in, and Oyegoke was also perhaps a little reluctant to get forward in support on the rare occasions Hearts went on the attack. Oyegoke will be disappointed with Leyton Orient’s equaliser midway through the first half as goal scorer Jordan Brown was his man, and Oyegoke’s mistimed jump provided the Orient man with a free header at goal from just a few yards out.

Blair Spittal

The former Motherwell midfielder’s versatility means that it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly where he fits into Steven Naismith’s plans. Spittal started his career as a wide player before moving inside to central midfield, while last season he hit new heights playing as a No.10. Against Orient, the 28-year-old started in central midfield alongside Macaulay Tait, with Liam Boyce slightly further ahead in the No.10 position. Spittal had a fairly quiet game before being swapped for Jorge Grant on the hour mark. There were a few glimpses of his long-range passing ability that provided some encouragement, but Spittal was also part of a Hearts midfield that struggled to get their foot on the ball and exert any sort of control in the middle. The playmaker struggled to make his presence felt – but the same was true of many of his fellow midfielders.

Musa Drammeh

Early signs showed a willingness to work out of possession and get stuck in. He played on the right of the attack pulled wide and occasionally deep to offer himself for a pass. At times was a bit tentative in possession. One instance at the start of the second half saw him pass up the opportunity to drive forward with the ball, going back to the defence instead. He was keen to exchange passes with team-mates but there wasn't much opportunity to run in behind or at full-backs higher up the pitch.

Yan Dhanda

The playmaker had to settle for a spot on the bench as the match got underway at Tynecastle Park before being introduced at the break at the expense of Liam Boyce. Out of the new arrivals, the former Swansea City and Ross County midfielder was probably the pick of the bunch. Dhanda drifted all over the pitch in a somewhat free role, sometimes moving out wide and sometimes dropping deep, but always trying to provide an option for the man in possession. There were a few well-taken set-pieces and some nice diagonal balls to switch the play, and he seemed to have a knack for finding little gaps. Dhanda didn’t always manage to exploit them, but Naismith and the coaching staff will be pleased that the summer signing was able to find pockets of space to play in.

Ryan Fulton

Stadium announcer Graeme Easton had not finished reading out the half-time changes when Barrie McKay gave the ball away and within a matter of seconds Fulton was called into action with a low save to his right but former St Johnstone attacker Diallang Jaiyesimi were on hand to knock the rebound into the empty net. Before the hour mark the goalkeeper made an impressive save, preventing Darren Pratley's header from finding the bottom corner.

Ethan Drysdale/Bailey Dall

Alex Cochrane's possible departure gave Ethan Drysdale a first opportunity at left-back with James Penrice not used with the club cautious not to rush him after his injury issue at the end of last season. It was an opportunity that lasted barely five minutes. The teenager pulled up with an injury of his own. It came not long after a promising run in behind to get onto a Barrie McKay pass.

Dall was not able to show much in an attacking sense when he came on with Hearts falling out of the game. Over the course of the game, he didn't use the ball all that well, perhaps down to nerves playing for the first-team. He showed tenacity, however, with a good bit of play late on. 

Set-piece chances... for Orient

Last season, Hearts were the best in the league when it came to keeping the ball out of the back of the net from set-pieces. The underlying numbers suggested there was an element of luck to have had such a good record from defending corners and free-kicks. But there was no question the team had improved from the season previous and even if the opposition got first contact on the ball Hearts were effective at ensuring there were bodies to block, clear or intercept. 

On Saturday afternoon it was an area where Orient got a lot of joy - and their goal. Jordan Brown headed in the equaliser. On at least two more occasions the English side could and probably should have netted. Every ball that came into the box seemed to be attracted to a player in white. They were getting first contact on most occasions and had the Hearts defence and Craig Gordon scrambling to get it clear.

What else?

Aidan Denholm replaced Daniel Oyegoke at right-back. The 20-year-old acted as a right-back in drills during training in Tenerife. He produced a key interception when Orient looked destined to score. Liam Boyce, who took his goal well, is now wearing No.27 with Barrie McKay replacing him as No.10. Macaulay Tait started very positively at the base of the Hearts midfielder, popping passes around and moving Orient around. His influence faded as Hearts began to struggle to get a foothold in the match.