Hearts 2 St Mirren 1

DAVID OBUA has warned Hearts team-mate Michael Stewart he will pay the penalty for his late spot-kick miss.

Hearts’ new Ugandan star was desperate to grab a debut goal when Jambos won their second penalty of the game.

But boss Csaba Laszlo over-ruled him only to see Stewart, who scored what proved to be the winner from the spot in the 73rd minute, denied when Saints keeper Mark Howard dived the right way.

Now former Kaizer Chiefs ace Obua, a penalty specialist in Africa, wants to take the next one.

He said: “I wanted to take the last penalty but we had to follow protocol. The coach said Stewart had to take the penalties.

“I wanted to take it but the gaffer said Michael had to and I had to sit it out. But the next one I will take — I promise!”

Laszlo later explained that he had FORGOTTEN to write Obua’s name on his list of spot-kick takers.

But he admitted he was happy with his new signing and is convinced there is far more to come.

He said: “I write down which players take the penalties and we had two players on the list, Michael and Laryea Kingston.

“Laryea was not in the game when we got the second penalty and it was my mistake because I should have written down David's name.

“David is a fantastic penalty taker and next time I’ll put his name down.

“He wants to show he is a good player and he had a big chance with a header that he didn’t take.

“But in the future you will see it was a good decision to bring David here.

“When you see the kind of football he plays you’ll realise why West Ham and Italian clubs wanted his services.

“Left-back is not his position but he played there for half a year for Kaiser Chiefs and we can use him there if we need to.”

Advertisement

Obua had an action-packed introduction to Scottish football as he sold a goal, played two different positions and produced in a starring performance.

And the first Ugandan star to grace Tynecastle reckons there will be more fireworks to come once he gets used to our game — and Laszlo plays him in his best position.

Obua started on the left side of midfield and moved to left-back as the Jambos made hard work of seeing off battling Saints.

Obua impressed in a left wing role to begin with as the home side took advantage of Tonet Gilerao’s early sending off to lead at the interval through Jamie Mole.

Gilerao could have no complaints after reckless challenges on Jason Thomson and Stewart but the red card changed the game.

Obua then moved to defence as Saints boss Gus MacPherson tried to put Hearts under pressure.

His only blip came when he was posted missing for Billy Mehmet’s 69th-minute equaliser as Jim Hamilton was allowed too much room to pull the ball back across goal.

Stewart’s penalty eventually spared his blushes, before the midfielder was left with a red face himself after his late miss from 12 yards.

Obua added: “It was fun. I played two positions and I was enjoying myself out there. Besides the little mistake I made I really enjoyed it.

“I was worried my mistake might have cost us but the boys pushed hard and we got the penalty.

“I didn’t actually know I would be playing until they put the line-up on the board this morning. But I wasn’t nervous at all.

“The pace wasn’t that bad. It was a little bit quicker than I am used to but this was my first game in a very long time and I was pretty happy with the way I played.

“There are a lot of games coming up and I need them. Probably after three games I will be okay.

“The atmosphere is good and the fans are close in. It was fun and I loved it.”

Obua revealed the presence of new boss Laszlo at Tynecastle persuaded him to turn down bigger and better offers in order to come to Hearts.

But he also believes the move to Gorgie will help him go on and eventually play in one of the world’s top leagues.

He said: “I had to progress as a player. For me coming straight from South Africa and going to a bigger club wasn’t going to help me progress as a player.

“To come here with the coach who has been with me for two years, I can only progress.

“Everybody wants to play in the biggest leagues in the world and as a player that is my target.

“I’d play behind the lone striker if I could choose — you will see some good goals when I play there!”

Mehmet could have snatched a late draw for Saints with a header that landed just a foot wide of debut keeper Marian Kello’s right-hand post.

Boss MacPherson insisted ref Calum Murray should have shown Gilerao a little leeway.

He said: “A quiet word would have sufficed. It happened so quickly after the first yellow he could have just spoken to the kid.”