In full: Steven Naismith reacts to Hearts win over Ross County

Here is everything he had to say, including a Cammy Devlin update.

What was your thoughts on the game?

You come away thinking it was a professional performance. Defensively we were very solid for the whole game. Games in Scotland inevitably have that period where things become a bit more direct, and you have to deal with that. We ask our forward players to be in good positions, but for the full first half we dominated the game – we were just a bit slow in our attacks. Our thoughts weren't to play a piercing pass forward, but in the second chance we put more naturally attacking players on and they had that instinct to pick that pass. I felt we were in control for the whole game. Being picky, we could have managed the game better at the end, but it was a good performance.

READ MORE: Ross County 0 Hearts 1 | Instant analysis: Robust defence, system tweak, bench impact

For the second game running your subs made an impact?

We knew the way the game would be at the start, and both teams are very detailed in what they do. As the game goes on, it changes as players fatigue, so we knew that as the game went on we could afford to put more attacking players on when we were in control of the game. In the first half we didn't look like conceding, but in the second half more attacking players could drop deeper and give us a bit more urgency. It felt as if it was building, so I think this season we will continue to understand that we don't need to win the game in the first minute.

What was thinking behind the change to a back three?

It was just down to the all-round personnel available. Beni was ill for the last couple of days, which changed things, and it let us have control at the start of the game. Our centre-halves managed to step in and help us play in their half, so it was more about that than anything.

Important to build on Kilmarnock win?

I said after St Mirren that I was pleased we had the two games, because it would tell me a lot about the squad. I think you can see that the group has a good understand of how we want to play, which is a good start, and then we have real quality going forward which we're going to need with the injuries we have.

It means going into the derby on a high.

For consistency, it's important. The bigger picture is that we've gone through spells where we've won then lost, but now we've won two back-to-back which is a brilliant place to be going into a derby.

What was it like having three away games in close succession?

The boys have got into a good routine in terms of getting some rest, but also managing to get training in for the guys who needed it.

READ MORE: Denholm's Hearts journey: From playing for Grandma's petrol money to top of the world

Will Cammy Devlin be back for the derby?

Cammy will be back in training on Monday, so he should be back for next weekend.

How pleased are you with Alex Lowry after his impact off the bench again?

He probably could be a bit disappointed not to start, but I was thinking more about our structure and I knew it was going to change in the second half. I challenge him all the time to give us an end product, and I thought he was really good off the ball today. We can't have a luxury player, he needs to be in certain positions and I thought he did that really well when he came on.

Does the off-the-ball aspect hold him back?

I wouldn't say his off the ball work holds him back – for 90 per cent of his youth career he has been on the front foot. He has come in here where teams play more directly than he will have been used to, and he needs to learn that. A lot of the time when the second ball dropped, he was on it because his positioning was brilliant. That's the part he needs to do consistently, and then he can ask to start. He has done that in the last two games, which is pleasing.

It must be good to see the team in fourth?

Things only really settle down in February or March. We just need to focus on creating chances and playing well, and we've done that in the last two games which is pleasing.

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