Substantial cosmetic work still needs to be carried out on the new
£12 million main stand at Tynecastle, but yesterday’s frustrating draw only served to reinforce manager Craig Levein’s desire to spruce up his squad.
The Gorgie side were held to a successive stalemate at the redeveloped stadium, and remain without a win in five matches
It was not for the want of trying against County. Hearts somehow failed to find the net in a game that saw them do everything but score.
County’s only meaningful contribution to the game was Alex Schalk’s drive that cannoned off the upright.
A goal-scoring midfielder is on Levein’s January wish-list, although a goal-grabbing forward would have come in handy against the Staggies.
Hearts peppered Aaron McCarey’s goal with umpteen attempts, the most glaring being Isma Goncalves’s 27th minute miss.
The pattern of the game was highlighted by the fact that Hearts racked up 23 attempts at goal – ten on target – compared to County’s five.
Levein said: “I’m just fed up after watching that and thinking that we did everything we asked them to do other than put the ball in the net.
“Everything was great apart from the result, which is what matters most."
Aside from a mighty scare inside the opening three minutes when Alex Schalk cracked a shot off the post, Hearts dominated the game.
County goalkeeper Aaron McCarey produced a man of the match display, but he was aided by woeful finishing from Hearts.
After Jamie Walker fired two shots narrowly wide, Arnaud Djoum should have scored in the 23rd minute, but headed wide from Harry Cochrane’s corner.
Isma Goncalves then had a goal-bound effort blocked by Marcus Fraser before the Portuguese squandered a great chance.
McCarey could only block Djoum’s drive but the goalkeeper reacted to keep out Goncalves on the follow-up.
Hearts teenager Cochrane was next to test McCarey after connecting with David Milinkovic’s shot, but the
shot-stopper repelled the drive with a powerful hand.
The second half was similar to the opening 45 minutes, the only difference being that the chances Hearts created were not as frequent.
Former Wolves keeper McCarey made a crucial double save ten minutes from time, firstly to get down to Christophe Berra’s header from Don Cowie’s corner before smothering Goncalves’s effort on the rebound.
Before four minutes of additional time were over, McCarey saved again to keep out Cowie’s low shot.
County manager Owen Coyle, who was aggrieved that a Schalk goal was disallowed for offside, said: “I can’t ask any more other than the quality of our passing. It’s a great point given the performance last week against Celtic.
“We are showing we have a structure and are organised, we want to add to that with other qualities moving forward.”
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