Saints recover from setbacks to grab a draw

RAY HEPBURN

7 Apr 1994

Hearts 2, St Johnstone 2.

ST JOHNSTONE may not compete in the premier division next season, but if they fail it will not be for lack of desire.

The Perth team overcame a horrendous opening 10 minutes at Tynecastle when they lost a player and a goal, but then led just four minutes later.

Sixty seconds on -- this after only 15 minutes -- John Robertson equalised and after this hectic match settled, Saints had ex-Hearts striker Ian Ferguson sent off.

Hearts were the better side and dominated the match, but the draw keeps them in the relegation dogfight, though three points clear of third bottom Saints.

The frenetic opening spell took just 15 seconds to begin.

Mo Johnston raced on to Neil Berry's through ball and when Kevin McGowne cleared his cutback, the ball broke off Paul Deas for a corner.

After seven minutes, however, the two St Johnstone players combined to more devastating effect.

Deas lost possession and when Robertson cut the ball back swiftly from the bye-line, the ball struck McGowne on the shins and spun into the net.

Paul Cherry had to be stretchered off three minutes later, to be replaced by former Hearts winger Alan Preston, who was celebrating with his team-mates 60 seconds later.

Colin Miller crossed accurately from the left and Ian Ferguson climbed high to glance his header behind Henry Smith.

The home fans were silenced a minute later when Saints went in front.

Ferguson turned smartly away from Alan McLaren, and released Philip Scott into the box for the teenager to beat Smith from 14 yards.

That fine goal was bettered another minute later when Robertson turned quickly on the edge of the St Johnstone penalty area and thrashed a left-foot shot low past Andy Rhodes from 20 yards.

Hearts, although looking nervy at the back, continued to shade the game in terms of chances and in 21 minutes John Millar found Robertson in the penalty area with a headed pass, but this time from his cutback McGowne conceded a corner and not a goal.

Ferguson's sending off came 12 minutes from time when, after having been cautioned in the first half, the former Tynecastle man rashly tackled McLaren from behind.

HEARTS -- Smith, Frail, McKinlay, Levein, Berry, McLaren, Colquhoun, Mackay, Robertson, M Johnston, Millar.

Substitutes -- Foster, A Johnston, Walker.

ST JOHNSTONE -- Rhodes, McGowne, Miller, Scott, Deas, Cherry, Davies, Turner, I Ferguson, Dodds, Curran.

Substitutes -- Preston, Maskrey, Donegan.

Referee -- W Morrison (Carluke).

Taken from the Herald