Derek McInnes admitted he "expected" his Heart of Midlothian side to beat Rangers at Tynecastle Park.
The Hearts head coach watched on from the sidelines as his side deservedly defeated the Ibrox outfit 2-0 with another assured performance in a big game.
It was a win that took Hearts 12 points clear of Rangers in the table and ensured they would maintain, at the very least, a six-point lead over Celtic at the top.
"Well, I'm pleased that we've won the game again today. We're nearly halfway through. I've got such a strong belief that we have got such a good team here. We've got a good thing going. I'm also aware that every game is tough," McInnes said.
"I expected us to win today. I did. I expected us to win today. We're exactly where we want to be. But I expected it to be tough and it was tough.
"Rangers have got a lot of talent. I keep hearing about how poor other teams are. But our points tally is exactly where it should be for a team who should be top of the league. People seem to think that Hearts are only top of the league because of the failings of others.
"We're just concentrating on ourselves. We've still got that fight to improve. I genuinely feel we're going to have to improve if we're going to make it the season we want it to be.
"But listen, we're just almost at the halfway stage. I'm really pleased with what the players have given us. I've been encouraged from day one, to be honest. I actually felt that the balance of the squad, the quality of the squad, the motivation of the squad, the professionalism of the squad has been at such a high level. I'm not surprised about how well we're doing."
After the first 10-15
McInnes felt Hearts "didn't really settle in the game" in the opening 15 minutes. But after that, he thought the team "were terrific".
"Rangers' shape actually surprised us. Normally, they go in one of two shapes, but going 5-3-2 when the team line came in, I didn't expect Mikey Moore to play through the middle. There were some slight adjustments to that because obviously getting our distances right and being able to apply a bit of pressure, we didn't quite get there.
"Once we sorted that out, to be honest, I thought from 15 minutes on we were very strong. We scored a couple of good goals. We could have had maybe one more in that first half. We got a wee bit of luck with the goal we dropped off, I think we've got to say that.
"At half-time we spoke about trying to be exactly how we were in the first half. Take a step forward, not a step back, and keep trying to get the third goal. Don't play that last-minute football for 45 minutes.
"The good thing for me is, I actually feel as though I've got the answers to negate that once you're in front. We've got a good squad here, a strong squad. A lot of managers always moan about what they haven't got and I've been that manager as well. But I think we actually blessed with what we have got and we had the answers in the building.
"Just disappointed we never got a clean sheet because I thought we defended brilliantly throughout. But if we are going to lose a goal, we'll lose it with 10 seconds to go. Which was a godsend for that at that time. But I don't think anybody could deny us a win there.
"I thought we were strong. I thought we worked hard. Players gave everything as they do. The players turned up again. It is always the first question people would aim at you if you don't win a game like this: can you win the big games when it really matters, when the question is asked of you.
"In every big game, in the eyes of others, every game is a big game, same three points. But we've dealt with it. People say the bigger the game, the bigger the performance. Once again, we delivered a big performance."
Solid with the work
Expanding on his view that he expected Hearts to win on Sunday, McInnes explained:
"I expected us to win because we're at Tynecastle. I expected us to turn up and do our work. I expected us to deliver a performance. I expected it to be tough because Rangers have good players. It was tough. There's no getting away from that.
"Rangers settled better in the game than we did in the first 10-15 minutes. With the deliveries at Tavernier, it always keeps you on edge. It always keeps you honest. You've got to make sure you're solid with your work with that side of it.
"When they went 4-4-2, we had to make sure we dealt with our wide players as well as that service to front two. I thought in the main we did that.
"I'm pleased with how we're doing. We also recognise that every game is tough in the Premier League. There's not a huge amount... The league table will say it differently, but I genuinely feel that every game we've won, bar maybe one or two, which were maybe a bit more straightforward, has been tough. I expect next week's game to be another tough game, going into the derby."
Defensive doubts
McInnes was forced into two defensive changes with Stephen Kingsley replacing the suspended Harry Milne and Frankie Kent coming in for Craig Halkett, who suffered a knee injury in training on Thursday.
He revealed that Stuart Findlay could have missed the game as well.
"Up until yesterday, Big Stu was a doubt as well. So we actually potentially had three changes to your back four, which have been doing really well. Each position in isolation is filled with a good player. So whether that be Jamie [McCart] and Frankie and Kings coming in, but I think it's not ideal. But we actually felt at one point yesterday morning that might have been the case. And that's what the squad's ready for.
"Halkett should be fine for Hibs. Even though I knew he was out for the game today, I felt better yesterday once we had got clarification of the scan results. Because, as you've already said, he's such a key player for us.
"But I'm blessed at the fact that Frankie can come in and do that. And that's healthy competition. Nobody really wants to come out of the team for obvious reasons, because they just might not get back in it."
Stay relevant
McInnes wants Hearts to build on what they have produced so far.
"Yeah, I think we need to get stronger. I think the performances need to improve," he said.
"As the games go on, hopefully they'll become bigger. I want us to be relevant. I don't want us just to see out the season and think of what it could have been. I actually just want us to keep playing important games. And as we go along, I expect others to improve. I think there's a lot of good teams in the league.
"There's probably us and maybe Motherwell who are really probably punching above our weight through the league. So we're really encouraged about where we've come from last season to this season. We've took huge steps forward.
"And that's a testament to every day at the club, from the board, the supporters, the players and staff, where everybody's just working for the same thing. We do need to improve. We need to be smart while we're working recruitment. We need to come out of January stronger again. But the players and myself, we all need to get better as the season goes along."
Beni return
Beni Baninigime returned for the first time since November as a second-half substitute. McInnes spoke of his delight at the midfielder's presence off the bench and admitted he perhaps should have brought him on earlier.
"When I saw how good he was when he came on, I was actually kicking myself, why didn't I put him on 10 minutes earlier. You see how the crowd reacted to him as well. I just love the boy. It's so good to have him back," he said.
"When he trained on Friday, it just felt good as a manager, knowing you've got that. As I said, he had 20-25 minutes in him at maximum. So he needs to now have a good week ahead of Hibs. But great to have him back, aye."
