Gretna 1 Hearts 1

By Gavin McCafferty, PA Sport

Ten-man Hearts were held by the Clydesdale Bank Premier League's bottom club Gretna in an eventful match at Fir Park.

Laryea Kingston put the Jambos ahead soon after Hearts had Michael Stewart sent off in the 20th minute, but the Ghanaian turned the ball into his own net moments after half-time.

Both sides had chances to win a game which saw referee Mike Tumilty hand out nine yellow cards.

Hearts recalled French goalkeeper Anthony Basso, Kingston and Marius Zaliukas while Gretna handed a debut to Nigerian striker Henry Makinwa and welcomed back Aurelien Collin from injury.

Hearts started the stronger and Gretna survived a desperate goalmouth scramble after Audrius Ksanavicius had flicked on Kingston's shot corner.

Zaliukas saw a shot halted by Gretna goalkeeper Greg Fleming and a second cleared off the line before Christian Nade's shot was blocked.

Eggert Jonsson volleyed over from 20 yards as Gretna struggled to get a grip on the game, but they could have tested Basso had Paul Murray got a better connection on Ryan McGuffie's low cross.

Ksanavicius cut inside from the right but could not beat Fleming at his near post and Nade did not get enough on Driver's cross to head on target.

Hearts were well on top but Stewart got himself sent off after reacting angrily to an innocuous challenge by Danny Grainger right in front of Tumilty.

Stewart lashed out with his arm in the centre circle and was shown a straight red card.

However, Gretna barely had a chance to impose themselves on the 10 men before they trailed to Kingston's 20-yard strike six minutes later.

Collin appeared to have held up Driver as he broke down the left but the winger cut inside and found the Ghana midfielder, who curled the ball into the top left corner.

Berra was booked for a foul on the busy Yantorno, who soon got a header on target from Evan Horwood's cross.

But Basso saved comfortably from the Uruguayan, who was himself booked for a late tackle on Berra.

Hearts made themselves difficult to break down and came close when Berra slid just short of Zaliukas's flick-on from Kingston's free-kick.

Basso had another easy catch from a James Grady header but Gretna should have levelled with the last touch of the half.

Yantorno's deep corner found McGuffie in the six-yard box but he headed beyond the far post.

However, the hosts pulled level within three minutes of the restart as Kingston found the same net.

Basso dived to turn away Yantorno's shot but Gretna took a short corner and Horwood's driven cross was turned into his own net by the playmaker.

Yantorno was off target with a 25-yard free-kick as Gretna tried to take command but Driver was proving a handful on the counter-attack and Collin was booked for hauling him down.

McGuffie should have had another clear chance but he miscontrolled Makinwa's pass in space on the edge of the box.

Horwood was stretching Hearts down the left and Jonsson was booked for hauling him back. Jonsson was inches from restoring Hearts' lead when his powerful 20-yard shot deflected off Innes, who saved Gretna at the subsequent corner with a brilliant diving header.

Then a foul by Zaliukas on Yantorno sparked a touchline melee.

The Lithuanian, James Grady, Jose Goncalves all ended up in the referee's book along with Ksanavicius, who was the most fortunate to avoid red after pushing Yantorno and grabbing Grady by the throat.

Gretna began to stretch their opponents but, with options in the middle, Horwood crossed the ball over the bar.

Yantorno forced Basso to scramble his shot wide after good footwork in the box before Innes became the ninth man booked, for hauling down Velicka.

But Gretna lost their momentum and Hearts finished the stronger side.

Velicka volleyed high over the bar after a slick one-touch move and Driver shot just over from the edge of the box before Fleming caught Kingston's 20-yard free-kick.

The dangerous Driver hit a shot across the face of goal in injury-time before Grainger blocked from Ksanavicius inside the box.

Teams

Gretna Fleming, Grainger, Collin, Innes, McGuffie (Graham 59),Murray (Jenkins 90), Skelton, Horwood, Grady (Buscher 86),Yantorno, Makinwa.

Subs Not Used: Caig, Cowan, Paartalu, Deverdics.

Booked: Yantorno, Collin, Grady, Innes.

Goals: Kingston 49 og.

Hearts Basso, Neilson, Zaliukas, Berra, Goncalves,Ksanavicius, Kingston, Stewart, Jonsson (Palazuelos 90),Nade (Velicka 59), Driver.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Wallace, Elliot, Ivaskevicius, McGowan.

Sent Off: Stewart (21).

Booked: Berra, Jonsson, Zaliukas, Ksanavicius, Goncalves.

Goals: Kingston 27.

Att: 1,544

Ref: M Tumilty (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com