Cheap goals but no finger pointing at Hearts- Alan Forrest Q&A

A slow start from Hearts followed by goals either side of the break from Ross County striker Simon Murray left the visitors with a mountain to climb in Dingwall. Hearts did manage to raise the tempo, twice hitting the frame of the County goal and having a goal chopped off for offside, but they were unable to find a foothold until second-half stoppage time when Yutaro Oda reduced the arrears.

Alan Forrest, one of the players who hit the post, met the press after the match to discuss his reaction to the loss, the tight nature of the game and his plans for the international break.

Here’s everything the winger had to say.

READ MORE: Ross County 2-1 Hearts: Shots aplenty, Forrest, Grant & Rowles stats, THAT miss

What was your assessment of the game?

You come away frustrated because we feel as if we've done okay. I think we have played a lot better this season, I don't think it was our worst performance. We were growing into the game and we lose a cheap first goal which wasn't good enough from everyone. It was kind of strange that we lost a couple of goals when we have been more solid in past games. It is one where I don't know if we did enough to win the game but maybe a draw is a fair result. We just need to dust ourselves off and pick ourselves back up for the game after the break.

What did Toby say about the first goal?

Nobody gets singled out. We've got to defend it better. I can remember Zander saving and I felt we were in a position to clear it but it is one where that happens in games and it is about us bouncing back but then we lose the second goal after half time and that deflates you. I feel we did have a reaction and huffed and puffed a few times but it wasn't meant to be.

Do you think if you got a goal earlier you could have got a result?

I think so. We had a few half chances, a few breaks of the ball and feel on another day we score, and dominate the game and it is comfy but it wasn't meant to be. Even at half-time going in 1-0 down, everyone believed we could turn it around. We lose the goal soon after the second and it is a mountain to climb. Again, I still thought we huffed and puffed a bit and on another day you get a result.

Because of the lead in third, is it a case of seeing where it went wrong and looking to put another run together?

I don't think we can come away from what we've done. What we've done is solid. You don't just become a bad team over one result. We just need to look at it... no game is easy but it is one we fancied to win. We look at it, reassess it but I don't think we can get too down. We still have a gap [in third] and know Killie won and they are in fourth spot. I don't think we can get too down and make sure we are ready for Killie.

Does it make it a longer international break?

You want a win and it changes everything where the mood is high. Now, because you have got beat, you need to wait a couple of weeks for your next game. It hurts that wee bit more. At the same time, we need to reflect on it and look over the way we played and make sure we are ready for Killie.

Does it hurt more because defeats have been few and far between?

Because we have shown over this period that we've been coming to these places and winning, we know we can do it. At the same time, you are not going to win every game. We've already been up here at the start of the season and won so we know we can win it, which is frustration for us, because of what we put into the game and maybe deserved something and on another day could have got the win.

READ MORE: Hearts international break plans - Frankie Kent and Calem Nieuwenhof expectation

What does the international break hold for you?

We've got a couple of days off now and then we've got a friendly game on Wednesday. Then we've got a few days off next weekend. You have played a lot of football and I'm looking forward to resting up. Before you know it, we are focusing on Killie.

People expected Hearts to be more on the front foot second half?

I think we actually did at the very start of the half. We had a chance and you think we are going to create more. Credit to Ross County but I think we can do better at the second goal. It's one of those days for us.