St Mirren 1 - 1 Hearts

Not since Margaret Thatcher introduced the Poll Tax north of the border in 1989 has one person been as widely vilified throughout Scotland as Saulius Mikoliunas.

Suspicion, and a whiff of xenophobia too, has accompanied the increasing Lithuanian-isation of Hearts in recent years, those misgivings heightened by a feeling that some of the FBK Kaunas émigrés have found favour and regular football based on nationality rather than solely on ability.

Those seeds of distrust already planted, Mikoliunas' reputation plummeted further last September when, in a Euro 2008 qualifying tie at Hampden, he earned Lithuania a soft penalty by diving. Scotland recovered to win the match but Mikoliunas' image in the country where he plays his football has been permanently stained.
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"We need to move on from that," was the plea from Hearts' PR representative when Mikoliunas, fresh from scoring the goal that earned his side a point on Saturday, was questioned about that Hampden flashpoint. Football fans, though, have long memories, especially when they feel they have been wronged.

The 23 year-old Lithuanian will have won no new friends in Paisley with a misplaced overhead kick that caught John Potter flush in the face - the St Mirren defender departed the field on a stretcher having reportedly suffered a broken nose - before curling in that late equaliser to deny the home side their first league victory in two months.

Mikoliunas, it has to be said, does not boast the physical attributes to convincingly assume the role of pantomime villain, coming across as a slight, mousy figure whose only real crimes would seem to be a recurring desire to take unassisted tumbles and a lazy streak that often does not endear him even to his own supporters.

There was little doubt that his involvement in the Potter incident was purely accidental and, as he cowered in a corner of the Main Stand at Love Street after the match, he expressed his desire to continue playing his football in Scotland despite the negative reception he often receives.

"From the start I got stick from opposition fans but for me now I don't worry about that," he said. "They shout at all our players but especially at me. Maybe I suffer sometimes but I don't mention it, I just do my job. I'm happy staying at Hearts as the fans are always behind me. Now I feel okay. The Hampden incident was a long time ago now."

Hearts at least should be grateful for the composure Mikoliunas showed to convert a shot around a crowd of bodies and past the unsighted Chris Smith in the St Mirren goal. It was an attribute badly lacking in many of his team-mates.

The departure of Andrius Velicka, previously Hearts' most prolific striker, to Viking Stavanger has created a vacancy in attack but, based on Saturday's display, it will not be one filled in the long-term by Calum Elliot. The 20 year-old possesses the requisite physical bulk to lead the line but a lack of composure saw him thrash several decent chances high over the crossbar as he failed to add to his two league goals for the season.

As a warm-up for tomorrow night's Scottish Cup replay against St Johnstone, there was plenty to admire in the St Mirren approach play, especially the interaction between Andy Dorman and Craig Dargo. It was the latter who laid on the pass for Jim Hamilton to score his first St Mirren goal while Dorman was unfortunate not to cap an enterprising display with a notch of his own.

Taken from the Herald