There is clear evidence to back up the Hearts’ camp’s view they ought to have taken a third league win over Celtic this season.

They had more shots, more efforts on target – and their expected goals rating was higher too – and they had 31 touches in Celtic’s box compared to just 13 for the champions at the other end.

Celtic had just 45% of possession – a remarkable statistic for a club used to monopolising the ball and titles in Scotland in the last 15 years.

Kasper Schmeichel pulled off two fine saves to deny Alexandros Kyziridis and Braga, and crucially Hearts made set-pieces count again.

Including throw-ins, Hearts have scored 18 times from set-pieces in the league this season, four more than any other side.

Stuart Findlay’s back-post header and Braga’s finish, which came from Oisin McEntee’s knockdown after a Harry Milne free-kick, got them the draw.

“On chances created and overall territory, it felt like we were the better team and were the more likely to win it,” McInnes told BBC Scotland.

“It was a great free-kick by Celtic to take the lead, but we gathered ourselves well.

“The game played out the way we wanted. We unsettled Celtic, but we missed chances.

“We are a wee bit disappointed that we did not take all three points. Most teams would have been happy with a point against a team like Celtic, but we rattled them.

“Not often you see Celtic time-wasting and trying to run down the clock. It shows the character to dig out a point without key players.”