Source: Team_Talk
Jefferies: We could have had more
Hearts triumphed 2-1 in Saturday's Scottish Premier League clash at Tynecastle after Jefferies restored Andrew Driver, Ruben Palazuelos and Ian Black to his starting line-up despite their recent knee problems.[LNB]Driver, making only his second start in four months, volleyed the opening goal in the 24th minute and his corner led to Gary Glen heading home three minutes later.[LNB]Winger Driver had returned to training on Monday after six weeks on the sidelines, but Palazuelos only started back on Friday after a similar lay-off.[LNB]Jefferies, who saw Jose Goncalves fail a morning fitness test, was forced into an 18th-minute reshuffle when Dawid Kucharski limped off and Black did not last long enough to see the second goal after suffering a head knock.[LNB]But his side created numerous chances and a makeshift central defence of Lee Wallace and Eggert Jonsson, with Palazuelos deputising at left-back, survived comfortably after Derek Riordan netted in the 79th minute.[LNB]Jefferies said: "It was too close at the end, it should have been over.[LNB]"If the score had been four or five-nil at one stage, I don't think it would have flattered us.[LNB]"What pleased me was the way we started the second half - we had three great opportunities in a 10-minute spell.[LNB]"The goal that got them back into it was down to tired legs. Ruben tried to stop the ball coming in but I can't complain.[LNB]"We took a gamble with him, Black and Driver, but I felt their experience was important in a match like this. I just felt Hibs would get a surprise when they saw the team sheet.[LNB]"We had planned to take them off after an hour but the two injuries obviously upset us."[LNB]Jefferies had to use all his persuasive powers when naming the team.[LNB]"I had to get into wee Andrew's head and tell him this would be the game they would be worried about if he was playing," the former Kilmarnock boss said.[LNB]"We convinced him this would be a game where he could be a big player. He said he would leave it up to me and as soon as he said that he was in.[LNB]"Pazaleluos did not even train on Thursday. He said, 'Maybe I would be better on the bench', but I said I didn't have time for that.[LNB]"Wee Blackie was always keen to play. He wasn't wanting to come off.[LNB]"We asked him how many times he had been down and he said once but he had been off twice.[LNB]"That obviously tells you there is concussion there and the medical people insisted we take him off. It's unfortunate for Ian because he started the game very well."[LNB]Hibernian manager John Hughes, who saw Chris Hogg and Paul Hanlon fail fitness tests, felt his side had started well.[LNB]"I felt we were the better team, then Hearts scored," Hughes said. "We were playing the better football and causing them problems and Liam Miller was getting in there.[LNB]"The first goal was scrappy, it should have been dealt with on two or three occasions. To lose the second in quick succession has really dented us.[LNB]"We got lucky and got ourselves back in the match but never did enough to get something out the match."[LNB][LNB]
