PRESSLEY - STANDARDS SLIPPED

Hearts captain Steven Pressley admits the standard of the team display slipped in the goalless draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Jambos lost their 100% home record on Saturday and were grateful to see Caley player-boss Craig Brewster miss an easy chance in the opening period.

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon also produced some fine saves to deny the Highland side all three points.

The Tynecastle side are unbeaten under first-team coach Graham Rix but Pressley believes the team under-performed against Caley.

He told the club's official website, www.heartsfc.co.uk: "It was a very tough game for us, a game where we didn't play to the levels we have reached this season and we were extremely disappointed."

Pressley added: "It has been a very difficult period for the players.

"I've said that and I've stressed that. We have done remarkably well to come through it relatively unscathed, and that's full credit to everybody within the dressing room.

"We are only human at times and there have been big demands put on us.

"We are just disappointed we fell short against Inverness, because we had an opportunity with Celtic playing Hibs to make tracks by either widening the gap on Hibs or closing the gap on Celtic.

"Unfortunately we didn't take full advantage of that and that was a disappointing aspect."

Taken from sportinglife.com