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.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.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.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.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.Jefferies said: "It was too close at the end, it should have been over."If the score had been four or five-nil at one stage, I don't think it would have flattered us."What pleased me was the way we started the second half - we had three great opportunities in a 10-minute spell."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."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."We had planned to take them off after an hour but the two injuries obviously upset us."Jefferies had to use all his persuasive powers when naming the team."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."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."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."Wee Blackie was always keen to play. He wasn't wanting to come off."We asked him how many times he had been down and he said once but he had been off twice."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."Hibernian manager John Hughes, who saw Chris Hogg and Paul Hanlon fail fitness tests, felt his side had started well."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."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."We got lucky and got ourselves back in the match but never did enough to get something out the match."

Source: Team_Talk