Melbourne Heart goalkeeper Clint Bolton is a big Nirvana fan, so you might think he'd offer up "All Apologies" as a musical summary of last night's 2-0 loss to Everton. Actually, that couldn't be further from the truth.

In fact, Bolton believes that aside from the scoreline, everything else about the game was a positive.

"Obviously you'd like to win, but there's a bigger picture," Bolton said. 
"Everyone got through unscathed injury-wise and we had a good hit-out from a fitness standpoint."

"We played a good style, defended well for most of the game and the coach was happy."

Head coach John van't Schip has been an outspoken proponent of playing attractive, attacking football. Based on last night, Heart have a way to go, but still - with apologies to Gippsland - this was the club's first effort on the big stage.

"John was happy with the style of football we tried to play and that we kept our shape defensively as well. He said that a couple of mistakes can cost you a game and that's what happened last night," Bolton admitted.

The veteran keeper says the other big bonus from last night was the fact that the entire team was together for the first time.

"There was a real definite sense that this is the team," he said. "I think the young boys are starting to stand up. A couple of standouts were (Michael) Marrone and Brendan Hamill. I think they're sensational young players."

"Then there are the older heads like Skoks (Josip Skoko) and (Michael) Beauchamp at the back, they fit in well. I think there's a nice balance."

"And you look on the sidelines and there's John Aloisi, Matt Thompson and Wayne Srhoj still waiting to come in; that's a good sign."

Bolton had a nightmare start to the game, with Rutger Worm's foul in the second minute putting Everton striker Louis Saha on the penalty spot.

Saha missed left, with Bolton good naturedly taking credit.
"Obviously I put him off somehow," the keeper joked. "It's a mental game."

Interestingly, Bolton wasn't joking when he talked about playing on the much-maligned Etihad Stadium surface.

"Ironically, given all the bad publicity, it was a decent pitch to play on."

With the practice games done and dusted, Heart now have 20 days to prepare for the A-League opener.

"It's good to have the three weeks to tinker and make sure we build on what we did last night," Bolton said. "Come August 5 against Central Coast, hopefully we're playing the sort of football that's going to win us games."

"Ultimately we need results. It doesn't matter how well you play or how pretty you look, if were not banging the goals in, it doesn't count for much."