Mark Stewart insists Raith Rovers can’t dwell on Saturday’s heavy home defeat to Hearts because the visitors were just too good.
More than 6.000 attended the top-of-the-table clash at Stark’s Park but it was a one-sided affair as the men in maroon cruised to an impressive victory.
Stewart was substituted midway through the second half and admitted afterwards that he had struggled to get into the game.
“I never really got a touch of the ball,” he said. “I think I had one half chance when the centre-half made a good block before I could get my shot off. I dropped into a deeper role but I couldn’t get involved.
“They were just so good with the ball that we couldn’t get it back. It felt like all I did was chase the ball for however long I was on the pitch. They are a really good team you can tell they are well drilled and their movement off the ball is fantastic.
“It’s just one of those games we need to put to bed straight away. It’s over and done with now. They’ve already beat Rangers and Hibs so we can’t dwell on it.
“Hearts are going to be up there we just need to focus on our next game.”
Hearts took control from the first whistle, with hat-trick hero James Keatings opening the scoring in the 16th minute.
The striker was first to react after Jason Thomson managed to block Sam Nicholson’s cheeky back-hell attempt on the line.
Raith had a rare sight of goal in the 28th minute when Grant Anderson charged down a clearance to put Christian Nade in the clear, but the former Hearts forward took too long to set himself for a shot and was eventually crowded out.
This lack of ruthlessness was punished as Hearts extended their lead just two minutes later. Keatings drilled a low shot past Kevin Cuthbert from the edge of the area after the Raith keeper had parried a Prince Bauben piledriver.
The second half saw the Jam Tarts continue their dominance and Keatings ensured he would leave Kirkcaldy with the match ball with a stunning free-kick strike from 25 yards out that left Cuthbert with no chance.
Subsitute Gary Oliver added a fourth for the visitors in the 90th minute, steering a shot into the bottom corner after Raith gave away possession from a throw-in near the corner flag.
Rovers boss Grant Murray admitted it was a difficult afternoon for his side.
“It’s a sore one to take, especially at home,” he said.
“We made a mistake at every goal and Hearts were so lethal that they punished us at every opportunity. We felt we could hurt Hearts in certain areas of the pitch, but they got a grip of the game after scoringearly, and we found it difficult to keep the ball.”
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson was delighted with his side’s dominance.
He stated: “We knew that Raith were a very strong team with Nade up front and had guys who are experienced in the league so we had start well and put on a performance “We’ve made a good start to the season but we just need to keep winning and winning.
“We’re only three games in and there’s still a long way to go.”