Tynecastle fans vent their anger after another home defeat

Parallels between these two clubs are few. Outside of the Old Firm, Heart of Midlothian are blessed with the greatest wealth of resources in the Scottish game and have, accordingly, tasted moderate success - despite their fair share of behind-the-scenes unrest – in recent years. St Mirren, meanwhile, since their return to the top flight 18 months ago, have perennially carried the tag of relegation candidates.

However, as from yesterday, the pair gained something of an unwelcome correlation as Hearts, after their third consecutive capitulation on their home soil, were sentenced to a fight for survival thanks by Stephen McGinn’s solitary goal and their failure to break down a staunch St Mirren defence. The Tynecastle fans were first to pass judgment over the latest woeful display and made their displeasure clear on the final whistle while Stephen Frail, the assistant manager, was forced to accept the condemnation without retort.

“There is no doubt we are now in a relegation battle,” he admitted. “We had no fight, not enough commitment and that was disappointing. The fans are clearly very upset and I can understand their position completely. They are the real constant at the club and we have let them down. If people think this club is too big, or the players too good to go down, perhaps that was a wake-up call.”

Despite the hosts’ recent form, the early signs were promising and a fluent early move resulted in the first genuine chance of the match after just two minutes of play. Lee Wallace advanced from the left-back position into his opponents’ half and his delivery was headed across the face of the six-yard box by Christophe Berra for Christian Nade to volley at goal. Chris Smith, the St Mirren goalkeeper, was well-positioned to make the save.

The Paisley side withstood the early turbulence and, despite the reasonable deficit in technical quality between the sides, began to dominate the play be sheer force of will. Gus MacPherson’s men bit harder in the tackle, covered more yards off the ball and were economical in possession of it.

Rightfully, St Mirren took the lead on 16 minutes – and with a move that exemplified all their most positive traits. Gary Mason intercepted a loose ball inside his own half and released Ian Maxwell with a scything ball out to the left flank. The defender, having already covered some 60 yards to support in attack, delivered a back-post cross with pinpoint accuracy and its recipient, McGinn, controlled the ball with sublime ease before drilling low into the corner of the net.

In the build-up to the match, Berra, the Hearts captain, had challenged his teammates to prove they have the stomach for the fight. If he didn’t already know the answer, his mind will have been made up on yesterday’s evidence.

The second period brought more of the same as Hearts’ irresolute attacking plays failed to breach the uncompromising St Mirren defence and, in fact, the prime opportunities of the half also fell to the visitors. Banks was to thank for keeping Hearts in contention on 50 minutes with a magnificent double save to thwart Stewart Kean, at first, and then Billy Mehmet from the follow-up.

The hosts made three substitutions, more by desperation than design, in a bid to salvage something with Michael Stewart, Saulius Mikoliunas and Michal Pospisil taking the field. The latter made an immediate impact heading goalwards from Andrew Driver’s corner kick with his first touch on the hour mark, but Smith was equal to the effort and tipped it over the bar.

MacPherson commended his players’ display. “We’re delighted with the three points,” the St Mirren manager said. “My players want to prove they can do it at Premier League level and there’s no better way to do it than win at a place like Tynecastle.”

Heart of Midlothian (4-4-2): S Banks – R Neilson, L Wallace, C Berra, I Tall – E Jonsson (sub: M Stewart, 49min), K Ivaskevicius (sub: S Mikoliunas, 49), R Palazuelos, A Driver – C Nade (sub: M Pospisil, 49), A Velicka. Substitutes not used: A Basso, C Elliot, J Goncalves, M Stewart, M Zaliukas. Booked: Velicka, Neilson.

St Mirren (3-5-2): C Smith – D van Zanten, J Potter, I Maxwell – F Miranda S McGinn, A Reid, G Mason, A Burke (sub: H Murray, 65) – S Kean (sub: M Corcoran 90), B Mehmet. Substitutes not used: M Howard, G Brady, C Mollow, R McCay. Booked: Mason, Smith, McGinn.

Taken from timesonline.co.uk