HEARTS 1
ON A weekend that means so much to Hearts in honouring the club's war dead, it was regrettable that Michael Stewart behaved dishonourably after failing to keep his fiery temper in check.

Stewart, an ambassador for PoppyScotland, let the side down when he was red-carded five minutes from the interval for kicking out at St Mirren's Hugh Murray in an act of frustration.

While Murray was perhaps not entirely blameless after confessing to having accidentally caught the back of Stewart's boot as the pair tussled for the ball, the midfielder's action was inexcusable.

Not for the first time, Stewart – sent off twice last season – lost the head and paid the inevitable price for his folly, albeit referee Mike McCurry missed the incident as he was on the blind side of the jousting pair.

Fourth official Bobby Madden did, however, witness Stewart's rush of blood and informed McCurry of what had taken place, with the consequence that Hearts were forced to play the remainder of the match with ten men.

Csaba Laszlo, the Hearts head coach, refused to discuss Stewart's behaviour in detail, insisting that he would be wrong to condemn the player without first studying DVD evidence of what took place.

Laszlo confirmed that he would do so before deciding what additional action – if any – he might take to punish his wayward star, adding that it was more important to highlight the positives Hearts took from the match.

Having demanded an overall improvement in attitude in the wake of the team's two-goal defeat by Celtic seven days earlier, when Hearts were roundly condemned for their lack of commitment, Laszlo pronounced himself satisfied that the response was a positive one.

"For me, the most important thing was for us to win the game," said Laszlo. "The point is, we had ten players and they handled the situation well. The players showed strength and I must compliment the team. Not everything was fantastic, but the team spirit was good and we did not lose faith."

Pressed on Stewart's dismissal, Laszlo insisted: "I did not see 100 per cent what happened. But when I asked Michael he told me it was a normal collision. I will analyse the DVD and then, if I see what happened, I can comment."

Murray's account of the incident was much more detailed. "Michael Stewart and I were competing for the ball and I caught the back of his boot by accident. Then as he drove away from me and played the ball wide, I got the other side of him and he barged into me.

"I was angry at the time and thought he should be sent off. I said to Mike McCurry that Stewart had kicked out at me, but the referee replied that he had not seen what had happened and neither had his assistants. But the fourth official did."

Gus MacPherson, the St Mirren manager, claimed TV evidence shows clearly that Stewart kicked Murray and he complimented Madden for speaking up, describing his actions as "brave".

But the forthright MacPherson was considerably less complimentary about his team's performance, describing it as having fallen well below the standards St Mirren have set this season.

"We did not move the ball about well enough or quick enough to create opportunities," said MacPherson. "That was the most disappointing aspect. When Hearts were reduced to ten men they played with two banks of four and they made it awkward for us, but we resorted to playing longer and higher balls and the centre backs were able to soak these up."

St Mirren's failure to make better use of their territorial advantage rebounded on the Paisley side when Eggert Jonsson headed the winner from an Andrew Driver free-kick in the 78th minute.

The 20-year-old Icelander, playing at centre-half for the first time, said: "Scoring was a bonus. The main thing was the win and I thought the team showed character and a strong spirit.

"Centre-half is not my favourite position, but I was pleased with the way I handled myself. I played mainly in midfield last season and there is more action there. But the manager has played me at right-back this season and I am happy to play anywhere as long as I am in the team.

"The manager told me what to do and Christophe Berra kept me right. Playing different positions will help my development as a player."

Three points was perhaps more than Hearts deserved in the wake of their recent disappointing run, but the result was a welcome one all the same. So, too, was the sight of Robbie Neilson after an absence of several months when he replaced the injured Saulius Mikoliunas midway through the first half.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Eggert Jonsson (Hearts)

The centre-back acquitted himself with distinction, both as a defender and attacker. He was self-assured and dealt efficiently and effectively with St Mirren's high-ball strategy.

Taken from the Scotsman