Alex Cochrane: The key area Hearts have improved this season

Resilience, fight, hard work and simply being difficult to beat, difficult to play against were key to the 2-1 success at St Mirren.

Macaulay Tait, the youngest player on the pitch, demonstrated some encouraging street smarts as the match neared half-time. St Mirren set off on a counter-attack through Caolan Boyd-Munce only to be halted when the teenager pulled him back, gladly taking the booking.

READ MORE: Alex Cochrane Q&A: Hearts goal insight, Vargas praise, difficult conditions

After the interval, Hearts were very un-Hearts like under Steven Naismith. They completed just 50 per cent (57) of their attempted passes and saw just 33 per cent of the ball. Not only did they largely keep the Buddies at arm's length but still created the better openings.

After a sip of a chocolate Yazoo in the media room in the SMiSA Stadium press room, defender Alex Cochrane assessed the game but also the progress the team has made. He uttered the 'S' word that is anathema to Hearts and the club's fans. Soft.

"I think it is something we have definitely improved on from last season," he said. "I think last season there were times you could say we were a little bit soft and goals would be too easy. I think this year we have a bit of resilience about us and we fight for each other a little bit more.

"We knew coming here third is not secure. We want to get more points on the board and push further away from Kilmarnock and the rest of the teams. We know there are still a lot of games to play and there's a semi-final to look forward to as well."

Even though he couldn't put his finger on the reason for the improvement in away form - 10 wins on the road in the league compared to three last season - the change Cochrane suggested has certainly played its part with regard to the mindset and approach.

"Just trying to keep to the same principles, home and away," he said. "Try not to make it difficult for ourselves and have that resilience and fight you saw in the second half when St Mirren stick on more players up top. You just have to deal with that and everyone dealt with it."

With Lawrence Shankland unavailable due to illness it meant others had to step up and Kenneth Vargas was tasked with leading the line alongside Alan Forrest. The Costa Rican may not have scored but he certainly played his part. It was his effort that won the penalty which was converted by Jorge Grant to open the scoring, he could have added a second after the break while his attitude and willingness out of possession meant he defended from the front.

READ MORE: St Mirren 1-2 Hearts: Change in approach, Devlin impact and keeping Saints quiet

Cochrane confirmed he is as much of a nuisance for teammates in training as he is for opposing defenders on a Saturday.

"He has that fight and bit of bite that is good to see," he said. "He has adapted to the league well and signed permanently which we are delighted with. He is getting better and better. He was very good and ran himself into the ground.

"A constant pest but in a good way."

Now, what about the winning goal? It was Cochrane's in-swinging corner that caused havoc in the St Mirren box with the ball eventually bundled into the back of the net.

Is he claiming it?

READ MORE: How Alex Cochrane has become a key player for Hearts

"We used the conditions to our advantage," he said. "I whipped it in on the keeper, Al Forrest had a good defensive header for them and then the rest of it was a pure scramble. Boys are coming over to me and I am not sure what happened. I think it has gone down as an own goal but we will take it.

"There was a little bit of me thinking I should claim it but if I do claim it, I think some of the boys will be on to me about that."

On the conditions, he added: "All game you see Zander [Clark] kick the ball and it spins back into your final third. I feel we managed the conditions well and we know it's a tough place coming here let alone those conditions. I think overall we managed the game well and it's a good three points to take."