Ross County forward Liam Boyce was frustrated by his side’s below-par performance in the 2-0 defeat to 10-man Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday as the Staggies missed the opportunity to leapfrog the Jambos.
Goals in either half, from Callum Paterson and Osman Sow, were decisive for the Edinburgh outfit, who moved five points clear of fourth-placed County.
The Dingwall side’s defeat came despite the dismissal of Hearts captain Blazej Augustyn three minutes into the second-half for a foul on Boyce, with Jim McIntyre’s side unable to capitalise.
Boyce felt his side’s display was below the usual standard, and said: “We started all right, but we didn’t show up really, and we could have done a lot better.
“Even with the advantage of an extra man we didn’t really move the ball quickly enough or get it in the box. We didn’t create a lot of chances.
“Both teams have done well this season, and it was a big chance for us to go third and keep pushing on.
“I was a bit surprised. Even though we started well, as soon as the first goal went in our backs were against the wall.
“We didn’t make a lot happen which isn’t like us. We usually get a lot of chances. It just didn’t happen.”
County have the opportunity for instant redemption tomorrow night, when they take on Caley Thistle in a League Cup quarter-final in Inverness.
Having lost the last Highland derby 2-1 against Caley Jags earlier this month, Boyce is determined to bounce back by helping his side defeat their rivals to reach a semi-final, and the 24-year-old added: “It’s a big game – the chance to get into a semi-final. Inverness were beaten on Saturday as well so they’ll be licking their wounds. Both teams will want to get back on a winning run.
“We need to attack the game and be confident in what we’re doing.
“When we lost the last derby we came back and beat Aberdeen, so we’re looking for the same sort of reaction. We don’t like getting beaten – nobody does – but we’re not happy with the manner we lost against Hearts.”