CRAIG Levein has lavished praise on Hearts’ talented teenagers following Saturday’s hard-fought 1-0 win over St Johnstone.
Kyle Lafferty scored the only goal of the game via a huge deflection off Joe Shaughnessy, ensuring all three points in their penultimate fixture at BT Murrayfield.
However, it was the youngsters who illuminated an otherwise turgid clash in the capital.
Harry Cochrane came off the bench at half-time and turned in a sensational display, teeing up the winning goal for Lafferty, striking the base of the post and winning man-of-the-match despite only being on the pitch for 45 minutes.
Jamie Brandon played the full match in an unfamiliar left-back role and Euan Henderson – fresh from a fine showing against Ross County – again impressed with his pace and physicality.
Hearts boss Levein said: “I was actually really chuffed with all the kids.
“Jamie Brandon had a slow start and I thought Stefan Scougall caused him a few problems – but after 15 minutes, Jamie got really tight and he didn’t really cause any problems after that.
“Henderson came on, did a job, chased balls into the corners, kept the ball for us and let people support the attack, so that was good.
“Harry was really good. He’s really young, he’s really weak, he’s really inexperienced, but he’s a good player.
“In all honesty, like most kids who get opportunities, if Arnaud Djoum was 100 per cent fit and Don Cowie was fit then he might not have played.
“Although he’s young, he’s probably the next best player we’ve got. That’s why he plays. He wouldn’t be in the team if I thought he was scared.”
The win saw Hearts leapfrog St Johnstone and Hibernian, moving up to fifth in the table.
Levein now faces a dilemma regarding how many of the young guns to pitch into action against rivals Hibernian tomorrow, adding: “I haven’t made up my mind about that.”
Tommy Wright, meanwhile, was left to rue the ricochet which cost St Johnstone – but did not spare his side from criticism.
The Saints have now lost three successive matches – against Aberdeen, Rangers and Hearts – without finding the net.
Wright added: “It looked like it was going to be 0-0.
“It was going to take either a wonder goal or a bit of good fortune and they got the good fortune with their goal.
“But I wouldn’t say we haven’t had the breaks lately, because you have got to make your own breaks.
“I am disappointed with the second-half performance – I don’t think we did enough.”
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