Bullock thwarts Romanov's pick

Hearts 0 - Kean, 82
St Mirren 1

VLADIMIR Romanov found out the hard way what happens to an owner who admits that well, yes, despite the denials, on occasion he does pick the Hearts team. After Stuart Kean grabbed an improbable but not undeserved late winner for St Mirren, a maroon-draped fan in the stand turned to the Lithuanian millionaire and bellowed: "Gonna change your team, Vladimir!"

In truth, neither Romanov nor Valdas Ivanauskas can be blamed for Hearts' on-field failure yesterday. Raving about puppets in the media or elsewhere cannot conceal the bleedin' obvious - this Hearts team is not of the same quality as last year's version minted by George Burley. Romanov will not tolerate it, so expect further revolution down Gorgie way. But the home side did have a semblance of an excuse for their defeat in the shape of St Mirren goalkeeper Tony Bullock who was simply magnificent. It is unlikely that any goalkeeper will have such an influence on the outcome of match again this season.

Beforehand, Hearts' captain Steven Pressley was presented with a silver quaich by club chairman Roman Romanov to mark his achievement in becoming the club's most capped player, beating Bobby Walker's previous record of 29 caps. It was a celebratory prelude to a match that never really captured the imagination, thanks largely to the misfiring performance of Hearts. St Mirren were well organised, defended like furies and drew confidence from Bullock's performance, but Hearts had the lion's share of possession and should have won the match. After a tentative start by both sides, the match burst into life after 15 minutes when Hearts were twice denied by wonderful goalkeeping from Bullock. A Roman Bednar headflick off a Neil McCann cross found Saulius Mikoliunas in space 12 yards from goal, but Bullock flung himself to his right to save the Lithuanian's goalbound left-foot shot. From the resultant corner, Pressley rose to direct a header into the 'postage stamp' top left-hand corner of goal, only for Bullock to leap high and fingertip the ball over the bar. Pressley was in the thick of things shortly afterwards, seeming to be hauled down in the St Mirren box, but his collapse was a touch too theatrical for referee Dougie McDonald who waved play on.

The official then deemed Mikoliunas's dive after 26 minutes to be of the Oscar-winning variety and promptly showed the Hearts player a yellow card. That seemed unduly harsh, as Mikoliunas was hurdling two simultaneous tackles on the edge of the box. It was the middle of three bookings in quick succession, David Van Zanten cautioned for a foul and Hugh Murray yellow-carded for stupidly kicking the ball away after the whistle had been blown.

Whatever Bullock could do, Craig Gordon could match. A deep cross from Garry Brady was headed back across goal by John Sutton to Stuart Kean whose fierce volley was athletically parried away by the Scotland goalkeeper.

If that was international class, then Bullock's stop late in the half was of the world-class variety. After Hearts had been refused another decent penalty claim - Kirk Broadfoot clearly blocked Bednar - the home side rampaged upfield in the closing minutes of the first period. Paul Hartley's skilful turn and shot did not fool Bullock, but he was drawn too far out by Bednar, the striker rounding the goalkeeper only for John Potter to get back and clear. Pressley then sent in a cross which Christophe Berra headed hard towards goal, only for Bullock to perform acrobatics and somehow scramble the ball away - a serious candidate for save of the season.He was at it again early in the second half, pulling off a quite stunning save low to his left from a Hartley free-kick special. Hearts just could not break down St Mirren's stonewall defence.

Mauricio Pinilla replaced the ineffective Jamie Mole and with his first touch attempted a bicycle kick which sadly for him went well wide. Saints enjoyed their best spell of pressure after the hour mark, Simon Lappin's shot almost deceiving Gordon after the ball took a wicked spin off the ground. Lappin's cross second later was headed narrowly wide by Sutton. The visitors were more than rivalling Hearts in midfield by now, and you could sense a shock coming. Bullock did it again, saving Pinilla's low shot before St Mirren broke upfield in the 82nd minute. Sutton put substitute Craig Molloy clear on the right and his shot could only be flapped away by Gordon, Kean rushing in to gleefully smack the ball high into the net.

Kean later went off to loud cheers from the visiting fans, while Ivanauskas sent on Mirsad Beslija for Mikoliunas, McCann also having been replaced earlier by debutant Andrius Velicka. Hearts tried hard to grab the equaliser, Bednar sending one shot narrowly wide while Takis Fyssas headed inches over the bar. But The last word went to Bullock, who dived low to his right to send an injury-time shot from Pinilla wide of the right-hand post. It was no more than the big St Mirren goalkeeper deserved after an outstanding display of custodianship.

To round off a bad day at the office for Hearts, Roman Bednar was shown the red card in the tunnel after the match for backchat to referee McDonald.
MAN OF THE MATCH

TONY BULLOCK: Little doubt about this. A string of superb saves by Bullock broke Hearts, and with only Paul Hartley of the outfield players distinguishing himself, the St Mirren goalkeeper won the game almost single-handedly.

Taken from the Scotsman