Csaba Laszlo finds potential in the Tynecastle mix

True, Hearts needed two penalty kicks, only one of which Michael Stewart scored, to finally break down a determined and well-organised St Mirren side who equalised from only their second attack of the game through Billy Mehmet.

And they look very weak in attack, with umpteen chances going a begging, although the lone striker, Jamie Mole, did net a cracker of a long-range drive.

But the midfield five Hearts employed on Saturday looked just about equal to anything in the Premier League. With Stewart and Laryea Kingston pulling the creative strings and Christos Karapidis lapping up in front of the back four, it is very strong. Add to that new Uganda international, David Obua, and Andy Driver on the flanks and Hearts could go places this season if they could only add to their attacking options.

Certainly, Laszlo was happy enough at the way his side played, although he was concerned about not finishing St Mirren off. “I was happy with the performance but I was unhappy with the scoring,” he said. “If we had used only maybe 50 or 60 per cent of the chances it could have been 6-1.

“But at the moment I don’t like to have any more than a win, this is the most important thing. This team in the last year has lost a lot of points and now we must collect the points. We played good football, we didn’t kick and run, but we must work on the finishing and learn to score. That is my only worry.”

St Mirren could be reasonably happy with their display too, given that Tonet Guerao was handed two yellow cards within three minutes, the second of which was very harsh. If they had held on for longer than just three minutes after Mehmet equalised, they could have snatched a point. Their dogged resistance was in no small part down to their display of Mark Howard, the goalkeeper, who made a string of fine saves.

“I’m pleased with my performance,” he admitted. “But it’s disappointing we did not manage to get a point. We grated so hard and showed a lot of determination. I think if you look at how frustrated we all are at not getting a point, it shows how far we have come.”

Gus MacPherson, the St Mirren manager, was unhappy at the red card shown by Callum Murray, the referee, even although he accepted it may have been right. “By the letter of the law, you could probably say they are yellow cards,” he said. “But if there are going to be challenges like that, we’re going to book every single player. How many players are going to be left on the park.

“With it being so soon after the first one, he could have just had a word with the lad.”

Heart of Midlothian (4-5-1): M Kello 7 – J Thomson 6, C Berra 7, M Zaliukas 7, L Wallace 6 (sub: D Cesnauskis, 49min 5) – A Driver 6, M Stewart 7, C Karipidis 7, D Obua 7, L Kingston 8 (sub: A Ksanavicius, 84) – J Mole 6 (sub: C Nade, 71, 3).

Substitutes not used: J MacDonald, R Palazuelos, M Rapnik, G Glen. Booked: Wallace, Nade.

St Mirren (4-5-1): M Howard 8 – J Ross 6, W Haining 7, J Potter 7, F Miranda 7 – S O’Donnell 6 (sub: H Murray, 53 6), A Dorman 5 (sub: S McGinn, 57 4), G Mason 6, G Brady 5 (sub: J Hamilton, 65 5), T Gilerao 5 – B Mehmet 5.

Substitutes not used: C Smith, D Wyness, M McAusland, S Cuthbert. Booked: Gilerao, Hamilton, Ross. Sent off: Gilerao.

Referee: C Murray

Attendance: 13,357

Taken from timesonline.co.uk