Interim boss Liam Fox praised bottom-of-the-table Hearts for having the resolve to dig out a stoppage-time equaliser and end their eight-game losing streak at home to Ross County.
Lawrence Shankland’s last-gasp header salvaged a 1-1 draw for the beleaguered Edinburgh side after Ronan Hale’s stunning first-half strike for the Staggies looked like consigning them to another defeat.
Although in no mood for jubilation, Fox was heartened by the way Hearts persisted to the end in their first match since the sacking of manager Steven Naismith last Sunday.
“I’m not sitting here celebrating taking a point,” he stressed. “What pleased me is we kept going, we kept playing forward, that was the most important thing.
“From where we’ve been and on the run we’ve had, it would have been easy to go into their shells, but Lawrence came up with the goods at the end, which he’s done numerous times before.
“As I said, we’re not celebrating a point, but I’d rather we took something from the game than nothing.”
Fox was delighted to see captain Shankland, who scored 31 last term, notch his first goal of the season after nine games without scoring.
“Nobody here’s ever doubted Lawrence’s ability,” he said. “He’s been on a difficult run, he’s not scored lately, but good strikers keep getting in positions and keep backing themselves and he came good for us in the 96th minute.
“Ask any striker, they love scoring goals and if they don’t they can get down on themselves, but I’ve not felt that from him this week. I’m hoping this will kick-start a good run of form for him.”
County boss Don Cowie was proud of his team’s display despite conceding such a late equaliser.
“I’m not angry, I’m proud of the group,” he said. “We battled against a really good team and put our bodies on the line to try and get the clean sheet. It was frustrating to get so close, but it’s still a good point.
“People probably felt this was a good opportunity for Hearts to get back on the winning trail because it was Ross County coming with a poor away record and there had been a manager change.
“It was about standing up to that and starting really well, keeping the home fans as quiet as we could.
“Obviously when you concede as late as we did you’re deflated, but I have reminded them of the never-say-die attitude and the togetherness they showed. That will stand us in good stead.”
