Apr 21 2008 Gary Ralston Reports

HEARTS fans forced to sit through the rantings of Rodney Romanov at their club's agm are now being served football's equivalent of Peckham Spring by the SPL.

The only thing that stores more rubbish than Romanov junior's head is Del Boy's cluttered flat at Nelson Mandela House.

He was at it again on Friday morning, claiming the SPL is a fixed league, screwed by corrupt officials rather than highlighting the problem of declining standards among referees.

As always, his comments were apathetic attempt to deflect attention from the real issue, which is how the hell his father ever allowed his club to get into this position in the first place.

The thoughts of the absentee chairman carry as much authority as a three-year guarantee on a knocked-off flat screen telly sold round the back of the Nag's Head.

In fact, they are as credible as the announced attendance at Tynecastle on Saturday of 15,259. What did they do, count fingers and toes?

Included in that number were fewer than 50 corporate guests in the Gorgie Suite, the lowest number of fat cats at a game in recent memory, according to Tynecastle insiders.

There are many ills afflicting the SPL, although corruption is not on the list. However, one of the biggest problems with the top flight at this stage is all the action is taking place upstairs.

The bottom six is being marketed, like the tap water from the Trotter kitchen sink, as something it is clearly not.

The scoreline from the Gorgie ground suggests a five-goal thriller, when in reality it was a game riddled with end-of-season ennui and supporter apathy.

Hearts and St Mirren can talk up points and squad progress over the next four weeks as much as they like but in reality players' minds are already on the beach and the managers' thoughts have turned to summer rebuilding.

There were three cracking goals to savour, two from St Mirren and Laryea Kingston's late winner with a 25-yard free-kick that left keeper Mark Howard grasping thin air.

Overall, however, the game was poor and St Mirren, their goals apart, did little to impress with a punchless display.

Hearts were a little better and enjoyed greater possession through Eggert Jonsson and the impressive Ruben Palazuelos in the centre of midfield, while Gary Glen was a pest along the forward line in his first top-team start.

Still, Howard could have spent most of the game flicking through brochures for Malaga or Marbella while contemplating a range of brightly-coloured cocktails that would leave Del Boy himself smacking his chops in anticipation.

For their part, Hearts could have replaced Steve Banks with Uncle Albert and hardly noticed the difference for there was little the former Bolton No.1 could do to prevent either Saints strike, which were almost the only times he was called into action.

After an uneventful opening, Saints took the lead in 20 minutes when Ryan McCay burst forward and let rip with a super left-foot shot that flew inside the post.

Hearts responded within eight minutes with the equaliser when Glen burrowed his way to the goal-line and the ball eventually dropped to Jonsson at the edge of the area to rifle a shot past Howard with the aid of a deflection.

Glen then sprung the offside trap three minutes from the break to knock the ball into the net at the second attempt after his initial volley was blocked by the keeper.

They were the only three incidents of note in the first half and the pattern continued after the break, although sub Juho Makela had an effort cleared off the line by Will Haining.

Saints carried a greater forward threat towards the end and Gary Mason fired in a wonderful, looping volley from 25 yards that looked to have snatched a point with 12 minutes remaining.

However, Kingston popped up just three minutes later with virtually his first positive contribution - a free-kick from 30 yards that curled around the wall and into the top corner.

Amazingly, it was the first time since August 2005 Hearts have come from a goal behind to win an SPL match, although it's a dispiriting sight to see them play for nothing but seventh place.

The fault for that can hardly be laid at the door of Steve Frail, who has lost only three of his 14 SPL games in charge and Romanov must surely regret leaving his side so rudderless for so long before the penny dropped and he put the interim boss in full control.

Hearts fans were at least given a glimpse to the future with the appearance of Glen and full-back Jason Thomson, 20, who was first introduced to the top team for three games three years ago.

For their part, it's worth remembering Saints players such as Howard, David Barron and McCay still have plenty miles on the clock, unlike Del Boy's Robin Reliant.

Jambos starlet Glen, 18, attracted admiring glances from the likes of Manchester United when he was a school boy but signed instead for his hometown club and clearly has promise on which to build.

He was pacy and energetic and made some decent runs off Christian Nade, who still isn't doing enough in key areas to justify the reputation with which he arrived last summer.

Glen said: "It was a big blow for the club not to reach the top six this season but it is a good opportunity for the younger boys in the squad to come in and play and I've been fortunate to be given my chance.

"I came off the bench against Dundee United before and I've been in and around the squad this season, but the tempo of the game at SPL level is a lot higher than Under-19 and reserve football.

"I've just turned 18 but hopefully I can stay in the first team and get a few goals for the club."

MAN OF THE MATCH Ruben Palazuelos (Hearts)

MAGIC MOMENT Laryea Kingston's match-winning free-kick. Lovely jubbly.

Taken from the Daily Record