Alex Cochrane hopes his first senior goal will be the first of a few at Hearts.

But the main task for the man on loan from Albion is to keep his place in the team.

Cochrane returned to the starting XI at home to Livingston and was involved in all three goals in a 3-0 win.

He rounded off the scoring himself by appearing late at the far post to turn in a low cross.

Cochrane headed to Tynecastle on loan within days of Albion announcing their tie-up with Hibs, Hearts’ great rivals from across the road.

If that made the move seem strange, the reasoning soon became clear.

Hearts operate a wing-back system, similar to that used by Graham Potter with the Seagulls.

 

 

That role suits Cochrane down to the ground and, on Saturday, he used it as the platform for a performance which had Fantasy League bosses purring – not least when he scored.

The 21-year-old said: “I actually spoke to the assistants last week about it.

“They said arriving at the back post is all about the timing.

“If you are standing in there, it’s easier for people to mark you.

“If you arrive just as the ball comes in, it’s easier to get on the end of it.

“I had scored a few times in training but it was just instinct that made me get in there at the weekend.

“Hopefully it’s not the only time I score this season.”

Albion’s pathway development manager David Weir probably killed two birds with one stone when he went to see affiliate club Hibs play Cochrane and Hearts recently. 

The Edinburgh derby ended in a goalless draw.

Cochrane, who played the full 90 minutes that day, said: “There are still things I can improve on.

“I go through clips, sit down with people at Brighton and Hearts and look at areas to work on.

“It’s always nice to get feedback from people at Brighton and I do hear from David Weir.

“At the same time, I’m here playing for Hearts so I have to do what they want me to do.”

Cochrane has six league starts to his name so far but missed the 2-2 draw at Ross County before being recalled to face Livingston.

He told the Edinburgh Evening News: “I want to be in the team week in and week out.

“If I’m not in it, then it motivates me to push myself to get back in.

“If I’m not in the starting line-up, I’ll accept it and I know I will just need to work even harder to get myself back in.

BRIGHTON'S GRAHAM POTTER PLAYS DOWN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

“I’m still young and learning the game so being left on the bench was something I had to suck up and take. You move on from it.

“Getting back in the team on Saturday, I just had to show why I should be in the team.

“You sit on the bench and watch how the game pans out. You’re there to support the boys but as soon as you’re back on the pitch, you need to give it your all and show the manager why you should be there.”

Albion’s loanees in Scotland had contrasting fortunes.

Midfielder Teddy Jenks initially impressed as he helped Aberdeen take a 2-1 lead at St Mirren.

But he was then shown a second yellow card on 51 minutes and, in his absence, his side lost control on the way to a 3-2 defeat.

Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass said: “I think it’s not something Teddy’s meant to do.

“He has overran the ball, he oversteps and steps on the lad’s ankle.

“It is a second yellow card and I think Willie (Collum, referee) has got it right to be fair.

“If it sticks at 11v11 there was only one winner, so situations change games.”

Meanwhile in Belgium, Kaoru Mitoma made his league debut for Union St Gilloise and had a shot saved late on as they lost 2-1 to Antwerp.

The Olympics international has not been included in the senior Japan squad for World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Australia.