Steven Naismith spoke to the press after seeing his Heart of Midlothian side ease into the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup with a 4-1 win over Airdrieonians at the Excelsior Stadium.

The Hearts head coach spoke of his delight at his players executing the game plan, provided an update on Craig Halkett, and looked forward to the trip to Cappielow to face Greenock Morton in the next round.

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That was a professional and clinical performance, is that everything that you wanted?

Yeah. It was a really good performance. We scored early goals, we scored four goals, and it is a comfortable night. But on top of that, the detail we worked on – nearly all of it was right, it worked well and the players executed it brilliantly. Whether that was the press, being aggressive and how we did it to the transition moment in our half, we didn’t let it become a 50-50. We didn’t lose the ball, we found the spare player and our speed of attack was good as well. So overall it was a good night and I’m pleased with everyone’s performance.

It sounds like it was close to a perfect performance in terms of what you wanted to see?

There were loads of positives but I’d say we’re still a good bit away. We could still be more clinical. At 3-0 we picked the wrong option and we forcing it. As the fourth goal showed, if you make passes it becomes easier, gaps open up and we score a good goal. We could have done that more, and then the goal that we concede is pretty sloppy. Other than that, it was a good night and we’re pleased to be into the next round. The demand at the club is to be in the later rounds of the cups.

How is Craig Halkett?

It’s something with his knee. It doesn’t seem to be anything major but we don’t know at the moment so we will have to wait and see. At that moment in the game there wasn’t any major risk to continue on. And it gave us a chance to get Kye [Rowles] on as well.

Are Hearts contenders for the cup?

The demands are there. That is what it is. Everybody in the last eight thinks they have a chance. Going away to Morton, people will think we’re favourites but others will think there’s potentially an upset there. If we’re not at it it’ll be a really difficult game. They showed on Friday they’re in form and they have a manager with an understanding of what he wants. A lot of our players have been there in Championship so we know what we’re going to. You need to have the main foundations of your performance at a top level otherwise you give yourselves problems. So we need to get that right to go as far as we can. One of the disappointing games of our season was the semi-final of the last cup so we want to get to another semi and beyond this time.

Is that the incentive, to get back to Hampden and rectify that?

Going into the next round, the carrot that’s dangled is going back to the national stadium and playing in a semi-final, then when you’re there it’s about putting on a performance. Even at my time at the club as player we were consistently in the later rounds of cups. We were in two cup finals and we were two penalties away from winning one. We’ve been close but no one remembers the close ones - it’s who wins it in the end.