Heart looked set to go home empty-handed with a minute of normal time remaining but they turned things round with Simon Colosimo heading the visitors level and then Aloisi grabbing a winner.

van ‘t Schip said it was just reward for his side’s perseverance and  their refusal to abandon hope.

“It’s a very important win. We have been looking for it for a long time and finally it fell our way. To win in the last few minutes is even better,” he said.

“I was really happy for John Aloisi to score in what could be his last game at Hindmarsh Stadium. You know that John always has the sense of knowing where the ball could fall and he was in the right spot to score a great goal."

The coach hopes it will now help his side push on.

A win is the best medicine and that’s the truth. It’s fantastic for the boys, for the Club, for everyone who is working hard, and I think we deserve it as well," he told the club's website.