Steven Naismith admits he has mixed emotions following Hearts' draw with Rangers.
The Jambos got off to a flier at Ibrox with Lawrence Shankland putting the capital men in front with one minute on the clock. But the Light Blues turned the game on its head through goals from Todd Cantwell and Fashion Sakala with the interim boss left frustrated at gifting Michael Beale's side two goals which has ultimately cost them a shot at third on the final day.
Garang Kuol netted with the last kick of the ball to claim a share of the spoils in a four-goal thriller but after Aberdeen's win over St Mirren and dropped points in Govan, it's Barry Robson's men who secure the best of the rest position.
READ MORE: Rangers 2 Hearts 2 as battle for third over as big derby decides fourth spot - 3 things we learned
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Now, it is a massive Edinburgh derby with Hibs to determine who will finish fourth and fifth with just two points between the city rivals. Fourth will guarantee Europa Conference League qualifiers with fifth getting a shot should Celtic lift the Scottish Cup. But for Naisy, he will want the job done this weekend.
Reflecting on the game, he told Hearts TV: “I’ve got mixed emotions. We had some really good moments. Some good discipline and understanding of what we’re trying to do, but we’ve given Rangers two goals tonight that have ultimately stopped us getting the victory and it’s things I think we should be better at.
“We could have stopped the game; we need to have more control. Especially when you go away from home, you need to be willing to dictate and control the game. At moments tonight we lacked that control which has ultimately cost us.
“That [fightback] is one of the pleasing things. The last three games we have now gone behind, but we have still taken something from the game and that is a credit to the boys.
“I thought we had a threat for the full night. There are moments when you come up against good teams you need to accept you are not having the ball, so you need to stay solid and wait for your moment.
“Then when you win possession back, you need to be brave to gain control again. I felt we did that tonight really well. We created chances, we played some good combination football to break between their lines and we scored two good goals.”
On the huge derby showdown this weekend, he added: “It’s a big game. The performances at home have been really good. We have started those games well and given the fans something to get behind and that will be no different on Saturday.
“I have said all along we have a way we want to play in and out of possession and tonight is another example of that.
“Come Saturday, it will be the same again. Hopefully, it can be an unbelievable atmosphere and a great end to the season.”
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