Steven Naismith said he was pleased with his Heart of Midlothian side as they defeated The Spartans 2-1 in the Scottish Cup fourth-round clash at Ainslie Park.

The Hearts head coach spoke about the team perhaps making too many passes in the final third, his delight at Craig Gordon's return, why he brought James Wilson on, and reacted to the latest reports on the Lawrence Shankland situation.

Was that a relief in the end?

I wouldn't say it was a relief. I think when they score we continued to keep doing the same stuff, we didn't start firing long balls and panic. That's the positive for us. We get the goal late on but we knew what the game was going to be like. It was going to be tough, it was going to be sticky, the surface, the way they set up, they are very physical in terms of their direct balls and they get their goal from it. I thought we worked the ball up the pitch well but it's then that decision, do we cross it? Do we shoot? Or do we make another pass? We probably made too many passes. The goalie only starts making some good saves after they score and we have that bit of intent probably. But overall I'm pleased, it's the first game back, Kenneth scores again. On the whole, it was mainly comfortable. 

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Delighted to get Craig back out on the park?

Yeah, that's a positive. Although for the last month, we've seen he is back to where he was. It's good to get him involved in a competitive game and he has the save in the first half which was a good one. He probably doesn't have that much to do but it is brilliant to have him back.

Dexter showed in flashes what he can do?

Yeah, and it's one where you will probably see the best of him as he goes on. That urgency and intensity I spoke about, he gave us it. First time he gets the ball, he takes his man on, beats him and puts it in the box. He's in at the back post a couple of times. So he's a good addition for us and that's why we got him in as early as we could. The level he has played at and in the last year, in terms of becoming an international, he's a good player to have in our squad. 

Was James Wilson's appearance a reward for hard work with the first team?

The reward is being in the squad. I think coming on is because we needed him. He is somebody who is very intelligent with his movement and he's a goal threat. I didn't think we had enough goal threat at times and that was the last part and that's why we put him on. He's somebody who has come in full-time and has to learn and work on the aspects of physically where he is at compared to who he is coming up against. He's definitely got the intelligence for it.

Is Zander likely to be back in midweek?

We'll see.

Shankland's absence is one for the conspiracy theorists?

Yeah, it is. He hasn't been about for the last few days so we will see how he is. I don't know whether he will make Tuesday or not. We will wait and see.

Contract on the table?

It's a process and, inevitably, we will get to the endpoint. The club will do all we can to keep him and it's a big decision for him. He will take as long as he needs to decide.

Reports offer won't be good enough?

That's for Shanks to decide if that's the case or not. When you get to the endpoint, we will do what we can physically do. Players who run their contracts down potentially have opportunities and offers which aren't there when you are under contract. He's got 18 months left, we have started speaking to him about a new deal, we will get to an endpoint and see where that takes us.

Are you aware of feedback from his side?

No.

READ MORE: Frankie Kent relieved as Hearts shake off Spartans equaliser to seal late win

Landmark outing for Gordon - first game in 13 months

Yeah, I think that will be good for him. He's got more experience than me. Getting back in the swing of it is probably the main thing he will take. I've seen him for about a month or so now and I'm comfortable that he's back to where he was. That was always going to be the question mark for someone his age but he has shown that. Even his reflexes for the saves today, he's an unbelievable footballer and person. We will cherish him for as long as he can play.

Craig rallied troops after the Spartans goal?

We've got a few of them. We weren't going to panic, just keep doing the same stuff. That end part has to be better but once you get that right, it's fine. Plus, you have to credit Spartans. They defended really well and their goalie had a few good saves. It was a typical early-round cup tie.

Why was Shankland not involved?

He's been ill for two days. On the advice of the medical staff, he hasn't been in the building because he isn't wanting to spread it.