Hearts 2 St Mirren 0

By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

Hearts were rewarded for a more attacking style of play against St Mirren with a 2-0 win.

The Jambos had been criticised for their heavy defending during their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Rangers on Sunday.

But second-half goals from Gary McSwegan and Juanjo were enough to secure a valuable three points.

A large travelling support had made the trip from Paisley to Tynecastle and St Mirren made every effort not to disappoint in the opening minutes.

Hugh Murray, who had been an injury doubt before the game, made his presence felt with a surging run through the middle after five minutes. The 20-year-old unleashed a powerful effort but it screamed over the crossbar.

Ian Nicholson tried to pin-point Jens Paeslack with a cross into the box three minutes later but the big German could not connect properly.

On the 10-minute mark Gary McSwegan had a great chance to give Hearts the lead when he pounced on a Grant Murray cross but chipped the ball just over the bar.

If that miss was bad the opportunity he missed a few minutes later was almost criminal.

A lovely piece of skill from Colin Cameron saw the Scotland international flight a cross over the Saints defence but the onrushing McSwegan's pace let him down and the opportunity to fire into an open net was lost as the ball bounced harmlessly out of play.

Four minutes later Jose Quitongo tried an opportunist strike against his old club but was prevented from opening the scoring by goalkeeper Antti Niemi.

Hearts were beginning to enjoy more possession and after 27 minutes Stevie Fulton had a go but blasted just over.

Eight minutes later Darren Jackson tried a long, low shot from 20 yards but the effort lacked power and St Mirren goalkeeper Ludovic Roy easily scooped up the ball.

That flurry of activity proved to be all Jim Jefferies' side could muster for the time being and Saints took the opportunity to force their way back into the game.

Steven McGarry laid the ball off to Murray who found Paeslack in the box five minutes before the break. The big hitman spun around and rifled a shot at goal but Niemi managed to get a fingertip to the ball to push inches wide.

Ludovic Roy did well to block a 30-yard screamer from Gordon Petric just one minute after the re-start. But Saints were punished from Juanjo's resulting flag-kick.

McSwegan made up for his earlier misses when he pounced at the far post to fire home the opener.

Paeslack could have levelled the scoreline 10 minutes later when McGarry picked him out in the area only for the German to nod over.

Just after the hour mark, Hearts almost added the second through Cameron. The Tynecastle skipper sent a superb ball in towards the onrushing Thomas Flogel but he mis-timed slightly and the ball slid under his leg.

Seconds later Quitongo was causing havoc at the other end of the park but his final shot lacked power and slid just wide.

In 68 minutes the Angolan was troubling the Hearts defence. This time he crossed to Nicholson on the edge of the 18-yard box but, again, the shot was off-target.

With 22 minutes remaining, Hearts doubled their advantage. Juanjo went on a magnificent solo run for 25 yards before curling the ball into the top corner of the net.

And after 70 minutes St Mirren manager Tom Hendrie was left even more infuriated when Quitongo tumbled in the box under pressure from Gary Naysmith but referee John Underhill waved play on.

Eight minutes later the tiny striker should have pulled one back for St Mirren when he found himself with the ball at his feet just eight yards out but shot right into the hands of the keeper.

Cameron forced Roy into a superb save 10 minutes from time as he attempted to kill of the game. He struck from the 18-yard box and the shot looked net-bound all the way but the Frenchman, at full stretch, managed to tip just over.

Teams:

Hearts: Niemi, Murray, Petric, Pressley, Naysmith, Fulton (Simpson 49), Cameron, Jackson, McSwegan (Kirk 84),Juanjo, Flogel.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Neilson, O'Neil.

Booked: Petric.

Goals: McSwegan 46, Juanjo 68.

St Mirren: Roy, McGowan (Sharp 57), B. McLaughlin, Walker, Turner, Murray, Nicolson, Gillies, McGarry (Yardley 74),Paeslack, Quitongo.

Subs Not Used: Scirmgour, McKenzie, Drew.

Att: 10,524

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).



Taken from sportinglife.com