Hearts' foreign forays continue to pay dividends

ian paul

30 Dec 1991

IT was not the most enjoyable Saturday of Alex Totten's year, even if it was one the St Johnstone manager will remember clearly enough.

When the team's top striker calls off just before the start of the game, the goalkeeper is sent off after 21 minutes, and the most influential defender has to leave the field after 27 minutes, you are inclined to suspect it is not your day.

And so it was for Totten.

Paul Wright, the most dangerous forward at Perth, had to miss the match because of a back strain and that meant a reshuffle of the side for the visit of premier-division leaders Hearts to McDiarmid Park.

Then keeper Lindsay Hamilton was ordered off for making a splendid save outside his penalty area, and John Inglis, Saints' speedy central defender, came off because of a leg injury.

All of which meant putting one of their best midfield motivators, Tommy Turner, in goal, forming a makeshift central defence with Gary McGinnis and Paul Cherry, and trying to stem the tide of a confident and exhilarating Hearts.

The 5-0 scoreline, Saints' biggest ever defeat at their new stadium, maybe was not such a surprise.

From Totten and the Perth team's followers' point of view it was not much of an afternoon, but for all others it was an exciting display of attacking football from the team which does seem to enjoy the challenge of 'foreign' fields.

Eleven away games won and top of the league; it was indeed a grand finale to 1991 for Hearts, who had snatched a victory against the other Saints at Paisley last week without playing well.

This time no-one could accuse them of ordinariness.

And, even if Totten might not agree, the Edinburgh team looked as good during the opening spell, when Saints were at full muster, as they did in their runaway romp of the later stages.

In the mood, Hearts play an attractive game and are a team whose title challenge now has to be recognised as genuine.

With Derek Ferguson back after injury and Craig Levein, too, Hearts have just about all of their squad available for the crucial period coming up and it will take a special performance to beat them.

Saints never looked capable of producing the kind of shock at which they were so adept last season, but their spirit was amply demonstrated by Turner, who tried his utmost in goal, and Cherry, who defended staunchly as the maroon army swarmed over the barriers.

Even he was not able to douse the rekindled flame of John Robertson, who was back to his most damaging best.

With Scott Crabbe also in darting and dangerous mood and Ian Baird funnelling effectively between them, the Tynecastle attack was always liable to breach the Perth defences.

It did so in only eight minutes, when Baird scored after a Crabbe header had hit the post.

That move had been started by Gary Mackay, who had a say in most of the nice things that the Edinburgh team produced.

Yet, he and his mates lost their way a little after the incident which resulted in the departure of their excellent keeper, Hamilton.

That came about when Mackay, with another brilliant pass, put Robertson through.

Although Inglis was in close pursuit, Hamilton had raced out of his goal, out beyond his penalty area, when Robertson shot.

The keeper made a fine dive to his left and parried the ball.

Unfortunately for him, this manoeuvre is not allowed and, indeed, is so frowned upon by the authorities it is an automatic ordering-off offence under recent guidelines.

Referee Ray Morrison, therefore, had no option but to show Hamilton the red card, although he did consult a linesman first, and any chance St Johnstone had of victory disappeared.

Turner went into goal and a few minutes later Inglis, whose speed and organisational abilities were even more needed, went off.

Liam Dunne came on to play in an unfamiliar position, the sleeves were rolled up, and for a while Saints not only held on but took the initiative.

They were still only a goal down at half-time but Hearts, having lost their rhythm against 10 men, rediscovered it after a superb second goal by Robertson.

He finished it well, but thanks are due to Crabbe for the most intelligent of headers into his path.

Really, it was then a case of how many Hearts could put past the deputy keeper.

The answer was a further three, every one of them a gem.

Crabbe was next, starting a sweet move in midfield and running into position while Ferguson and Baird carried on down the right.

When Baird's low cross came over, there was Scott cheekily side-footing it into the net.

The same man scored the fourth after Mackay had done the supporting act, and Robertson added the final indignity near the end when again it was Mackay who lent a hand.

It was a cheery bus that made its way back to the capital.

But the Jam Tarts are taking

this championship business seriously.

Taken from the Herald