What did we learn from McInnes' first Hearts game?

"I enjoyed it, but I want to enjoy it a wee bit more."

Derek McInnes allowed himself a wee smile at the end of his victorious first game as Hearts head coach.

The scoreboard read a comfortable 4-1 win in the Premier Sports Cup, but scoreboards don't always tell the full story.

For much of the stuffy second half Hearts endured against Dunfermline Athletic, McInnes was seated in the dugout.

He must've thought all his dreams had come true when James Wilson fired Hearts in front with three minutes on the clock, much to the delight of a boisterous home crowd, but it was not a perfect sign of things to come.

Despite a rapid start, Hearts soon played safe and lacked the killer instinct to put the game to bed before the break. Instead, they went into it level.

A draw after 90 minutes appeared increasingly likely until Lawrence Shankland - who McInnes played a pivotal role in keeping at Tynecastle - tucked away two identical penalties in under three minutes.

With just over ten minutes to go, the points were in the bag but substitute Stephen Kingsley's fantastic finish in stoppage time ensured a sigh of relief.

His opposite number, Neil Lennon, said it was "a great game", but what did we learn from McInnes first outing in the maroon dugout?

For the first 10 minutes, Hearts were tremendous.

They came flying out the traps and could have scored within the opening minute, had Shankland found the net rather than Pars goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet's palms.

Their play was sharp and speedy, getting the ball into the final third as soon as possible. McInnes was heard hollering at his defenders to get the ball to Shankland and Wilson even quicker.

"I thought we started the game like a train and missed two or three really good chances and had Dunfermline where we wanted them," McInnes said.

"We got the early goal, which was the perfect start and what I asked for. I thought the energy and the intelligence of the team was really strong in that part."

Although it didn't last nearly as long as McInnes would have wanted, the early signs of his system were on show. As confidence grows and bodies come in, there's every chance it'll be effective.

Among those new bodies are likely to be wingers Sabah Kerjota and Pierre Landry Kabore who have long been reported to be Hearts players this term.

McInnes said pre-match the club are "quite far down the line" in signing two wingers and Saturday's run out suggested why.

One of only two starting debutants, Claudio Braga on the left was key to the quick start, but the Pars soon sussed out the Portuguese. It was quite clear he wasn't an out-and-out winger.

There were glimpses of his guile and his gleaming smile at full-time was as wide as Gorgie Road, but he will surely be searching for a shot as a striker soon.

Alan Forrest's work-rate down the right couldn't be questioned, but it didn't click for the 28-year-old.

McInnes did note pre-match he prefers Forrest on the left, but he's been "really effective" on the right, too.

With more players coming in to a 29-man squad, there is certain to be a few heading out the exit door at Tynecastle, too.

He won't publicly take much praise for it, but McInnes was instrumental in ensuring Scotland striker Shankland stayed with Hearts and signed a new deal.

He talked up his captain, but never applied a hard deadline for a decision on a new contract. His patience and persistence paid off, and Hearts are already reaping the rewards.

Shankland didn't look like a guy who'd spent a chunk of pre-season weighing up his options - while also holidaying and getting married.

The applause he received pre-match as he led his team out was hearty, while he earned an endearing reception on his departure once he'd dispatched two penalties in a smart performance.

It was his arcing shot off a post which also teed up Wilson for the opener.

McInnes made a point post-match that in football, particularly at this stage of the season, games are "won by mistakes", rather than tactics or individual moments.

But someone still needs to capitalise on those mistakes. Step forward, Shankland.

"When the game needs calmness and that confidence to take a penalty, Lawrence is there," the head coach added.

"When the game's in the balance, you're never going to be in a rush to take somebody like Lawrence off."