Barr serves up trouble as fans turn on Romanov

Gretna gained a measure of revenge for their cruel Scottish Cup final defeat by Heart of Midlothian two seasons ago as they broke their Scottish Premier League duck and brought yet another whiff of mutiny to the Edinburgh club.

Craig Barr's fine 79th-minute header cancelled out Andrew Driver's spectacular volley to earn the promoted side their first point in the top flight. Their manager, David Irons, celebrated with the Border wedding town's small but vocal support at the end, drowned out by a backdrop of howling from the Hearts fans.

Last season it was the dressing room that protested against the bizarre ownership of the millionaire Vladimir Romanov. The three rebel players – Craig Gordon, Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley – have gone, netting £10.5m, but Romanov's refusal to spend has snapped the patience of the public who once adored him.

Gretna's failure to take a point in their opening two matches had created a grim forecast for their chances of survival in the SPL this season. However, they showed glimpses of quality on the other side of Edinburgh last week before losing a two-goal lead and falling to a 4-2 defeat at Hibernian.

Hearts were barely in any better shape. Losing the Edinburgh derby and drawing at Aberdeen had prompted Romanov to tinker with his managerial team yet again. The man who has fired seven coaches has brought in the Bulgarian coach Angel Chervenkov to aid the head coach, Anatoly Korobochka – a Russian – and his Scottish assistant, Steve Frail. The two elder eastern European statesmen preferred the directors' box while an interpreter stood next to Frail with a mobile phone earpiece.

Gretna gained an early foothold, passing the ball crisply and defending well in treacherously wet conditions. Fabian Yantorno's pace was giving Hearts some anxiety and it took a vital interception from the home captain, Christophe Berra, to prevent Colin McMenamin putting Gretna ahead.

Hearts brought on Driver at the start of the second half and the substitute almost scored within three minutes as he fired a shot narrowly wide.

That was to be a false dawn, though the angry home support was quelled, briefly, when Driver conjured up a stunning goal. Michael Stewart picked him out just outside the box and the teenager met the ball with a venomous volley that flew high past Greg Fleming.

However, Gretna refused to buckle. Their courage was rewarded when Barr equalised. The full-back went forward to attack Yantorno's free-kick from the centre circle and rose to glance the ball past the dive of Steve Banks.

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