King Larry Gives Joy To Jambos

AFTER all his bravado on Friday about bent refs and Old Firm corruption, Roman Romanov wasn't big enough to face the fans at Tynecastle yesterday.

Which is a pity as the Hearts chairman missed a cracking finish with two stunning goals going some way to raising his suffering support's spirits as they face up to playing out the season in the bottom half of the SPL for the first time.

Laryea Kingston's rasping free-kick snatched victory for the Jambos just three minutes after Gary Mason's equally impressive finish looked to have earned St Mirren a draw they thoroughly deserved.

Had the ever-absent Romanov been willing to grace us with his presence he would have seen no "screwing" by referee Mike McCurry - he's a man of the cloth for goodness sake - and no hint of an agenda against Hearts.

Instead he'd have seen some good old fashioned resilience by his team to battle back from 1-0 down, some great goals and bright signs for the future as caretaker boss Stevie Frail blooded rookies Gary Glen and Jason Thomson.

And afterwards Frail was as dignified as ever, despite Friday's AGM doing nothing to clear up his future at the club, as he focused only on the character building in his side.

He said: "The guys have reacted brilliantly since missing the top six.

"Maybe earlier in the season the heads would have gone down after going behind and we would have lost that game but today they kept battling .

"People talk about the heart in this team, the character and maybe a lack of respect for the manager but the players showed everyone today that they want to finish this season on as high a note as possible."

Hearts were up against it in 19 minutes when Garry Brady slid a square ball into the path of Ryan McCay. Two strides later the wing-back was unloading from 25 yards past helpless keeper Stevie Banks.

Yet that setback seemed to be the jolt the Gorgie side needed and they drew themselves level in the 27th minute.

There was an element of luck when the ball broke to Eggert Jonsson on the edge of the box and the Icelandic youngster's shot took a hint of a deflection as it spun past Mark Howard.

But the important thing is it got there and it proved the shot in the arm Hearts needed to push on and grab the lead four minutes before the break.

Rookie striker Glen's first start for the club had been a quiet affair until Saulius Mikoliunas lobbed the ball over the top to send the 17-year-old bursting clear on goal.

His first effort was denied by a brilliant point-blank save by Howard but the rebound went straight to Glen who gleefully slotted home.

There were few chances early in the second half but the introduction of Juho Makela on the hour after Christian Nade had taken a knock brought a fresh edge to the Jambos attack.

And if the sub had put Hearts further ahead soon after coming on St Mirren would have had only themselves to blame.

Keeper Howard had a rush of blood as he came out to claim a ball, crashing into defender Ian Maxwell in the process and spilling straight to the feet of Makela on the edge of the area.

His effort was heading into the gaping net until Will Haining cleared in the nick of time.

St Mirren made a 66th-minute switch - striker Stephen McGinn for Brady - in a bid to snatch the equaliser and only superb handling by Banks kept them out when Andy Dorman curled in a low effort with 20 minutes left.

But the keeper could do nothing to keep out the Buddies' stunning 77th minute leveller as Mason swivelled on the edge of the box and unleashed a dipping drive that tucked under the bar.

A superb strike but Hearts took just three minutes to hit back in equally sensational style.

Kingston this week revealed his desire to stay at Hearts and the brilliance he produced from his free-kick - curled with power and precision into the top corner - is exactly why Hearts must open talks NOWto keep him.

A cracking goal worthy of winning any match but that will be no consolation for St Mirren who deserved at least a point from this game.

REF WATCH

MIKE McCURRY angered the home support with a few dodgy calls but it was a steady enough display from the whistler who managed to keep his cards in his pocket all day.

Rating: 6/10

MATCH STATS

SHOTS ON 7

SHOTS OFF 4

OFFSIDE 4

FOULS 8

CORNERS 4

BOOKINGS 0

SHOTS ON 6

SHOTS OFF 3

OFFSIDE 5

FOULS 12

CORNERS 7

BOOKINGS 0

Taken from the Sunday Mail