'I've been picking the wrong team,' quips Derek after 8-1 friendly rout

DEREK McINNES insists there's no first-team comfort zone at Hearts after watching his fringe stars batter down his door with an eight-goal mauling of Ross County.

- GORDON PARKS

A second-string side ran riot in a closed-door friendly on Tuesday. Elton Kabangu, above, grabbed a hat-trick, while recent signings Tomas Magnusson and Pierre Landry Kabore also netted in the 8-1 rout.

It was an exercise to give players game time between competitive fixtures and manager McInnes felt the scoreline highlighted the desire in the squad ahead of Saturday's Premier Sports Cup clash at St Mirren.

He said: "I was delighted with the approach from the players.

"Some of them can maybe feel they are on the outside looking in and feel a bit sorry for themselves.