What was going through Beni Baningime’s head when he dribbled through the middle of a crowded midfield to set up Saturday’s winner for Heart of Midlothian: “Don’t shoot!”

The 26-year-old was in slight nosebleed territory when fed Kenneth Vargas with around 15 minutes to go.

Baningime delivered those words with a belly laugh and the truth is, he does not know. It was instinct. He still is not sure why he did not slip in Lawrence Shankland.

“I wasn't really thinking much, I had Shanks to my right,” he added. “I don't know why I didn't give him the ball because I normally give him the ball and he'll score it and put it in the net but I think I chopped and I went left.

“I just saw Kenny there and I passed it to him and he did the rest so I'm just happy for the win really."

The 26-year-old has never been one for ‘putting numbers on the board’. He has more bookings in his time at Hearts than goals and assists combined. His two goals were effectively tackles.

"I'm normally at the back, so when I got it and I saw that they kind of parted. So I thought, oh, this is a great time to run, and I did that. 

"I don't really do that a lot but I think maybe it's something that I may need to do a little bit more because I do think I've got that in my locker.

“Ultimately it's about the team, it's not about me or whatever the gaffer tells me to do and how he can utilise me and my strengths. So I don't really do it a lot."

Saturday’s win over St Johnstone was Neil Critchley’s third win in five matches since taking over. The Hearts head coach revealed after the game that Baningime was a player he tried to sign while he was at Blackpool.

Baningime said it has been “weird” to be managed by him now after being on the losing side of the under-23 Merseyside derby so often when Critchley was in charge of the young Liverpool side.

“Honestly, his team, they used to kill us every single time, they used to beat us every single time,” said Baningime.

"Blackpool did want me and I met the gaffer, we had a great chat, but me and my family spoke and we didn't really think it was the right time for me to go at the time. I had a few things to get ready about and it wasn't the right time but you know how life works out.

"Now he's my gaffer and I'm really, really happy about that."

Working under the new boss has been “demanding", something Baningime said he needed: “I feel like sometimes I can be a little bit, as everyone can be, a bit complacent. 

"But he's at everyone's standards of being better and I think he's come in and we've had a few weaknesses this season. We haven't been great and we've lost a few games and he's sorted it out in terms of some of the things that he's said.

“Before the game we were talking about character and when they scored, I looked to him and he was like, 'character'.

"Ultimately, for us, I'm glad that we showed that character and I'm very excited for more challenges that are going to come our way."

After a run of three matches out the side with illness, Baningime was back and showing how valuable he is to Hearts at McDiarmid Park. Even before his glorious assist he was the man of the match.

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Perhaps we will see more of this now given that his “boy” Malachi Boateng provides a similar level of defensive cover.

He extends the same gratitude to his other midfield partners, his “family”. All of which will be needed ahead of a very busy and even tougher run of games.

"I love it, that's my boy,” said Baningime when asked about his midfield partnership with Boateng. “And I also love playing with Cammy [Devlin], and I love playing with Granty [Jorge Grant]. The good thing is, Malachi, that's my boy. Cammy, that's my boy. Honestly, that's family.

"I think I have so many people here that I will know after football, will always be in touch and that's why, for me, this team is special. Right now, things have been tough but honestly, we're all there for each other and I feel like it's a great bunch of lads and I'm so happy to be here and I'm happy to have met them.

"It's a fantastic run of games. I'm ready, I think every footballer will never want to come out. You have to drag me off the pitch. That's my mentality, and I know every player in there is the same.

"You want the big games and those are huge games. You need character, and you need to go out there and you need to show that you are as good as you are and you're here for a reason.

"You're at a big club, you're playing European football, as I said before, you need character, you need people that want to play. I couldn't think of anything worse than being rested.

"If I'm rested, that's fine, and that's the manager's decision and he's going to make that decision. But for me, and I know everybody else, I would say they want to play every game."