St Mirren 0-1 Hearts

Nov 10 2008 By Colin Duncan

A WEEKEND to remember for Hearts. Another one to forget for Michael Stewart. On an afternoon when Csaba Laszlo's side finally showed their backbone, Stewart was red-carded for an act of sheer stupidity. The midfielder was dismissed amid much controversy at the end of the first half after petulantly lashing out at Hugh Murray.

It's hard to comprehend the same player, the SPL's ambassador for Poppyscotland, just 24 hours earlier spoke eloquently and passionately about the need for the Tynecastle club to pay tribute to the seven Hearts players who lost their lives fighting in the Great War.

Yesterday morning Stewart also carried out his duties on behalf of Earl Haig with aplomb, leading his team-mates on a Remembrance Day parade at Haymarket in Edinburgh.

However, somewhere in between, the Scotland international's capacity for self-destruction again came to the fore.

Indeed, while his colleagues were upholding their part of the bargain, dedicating a much-needed victory to those who fell serving their country with an impressively disciplined display, Stewart's indiscipline was earning him another suspension.

The former Manchester United player has previous in this department - he was sent off twice last season - and his latest moment of madness was as unfathomable as it was unnecessary.

Stewart was bursting forward as Hearts attacked when Murray appeared to nudge into him. In a total over-reaction he lashed out with a boot and then led with a forearm, sending Murray crashing to the turf.

A penalty box stramash ensued as referee Mike McCurry tried to restore order. The St Mirren players protested vigorously while Hearts pleaded their innocence.

Having missed the off-the-ball incident, McCurry looked to his linesman for assistance but it wasn't forthcoming.

Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity (three minutes to be exact) fourth official Bobby Madden finally managed to catch the attention of McCurry.

And after a brief consultation the correct decision, albeit belatedly, was reached and Stewart headed for an early bath.

Madden, who broke new ground by correctly intervening, then achieved another first when he received a round of applause from the Saints supporters when he held up the board to signal three minutes of first-half injury time.

It might have been tongue in cheek but in a campaign when criticism has been hurled at whistlers on a weekly basis, both Madden and McCurry deserve credit for getting it right.

St Mirren defender Will Haining was full of praise for the officials although he was less than complimentary about his team's failure to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

He said: "Whoever made the decision got it right and they deserve credit for it. I was running back towards my own goal and I had a good view of the incident.

"It was definitely a foul and certainly a yellow card at the very least. The ref has missed it but the fourth official has made him aware of it and he's taken further action.

"I had a clear view. Hugh is on his inside and he's just lunged into him with arms, legs and knees. By the laws of the game I don't think that's allowed.

"I was happy with the decision but we're very disappointed with the result. We had the lion's share of possession but didn't do anything with it.

"It's frustrating but we didn't create enough to win the game. We had one chance at the start of the second half when Billy Mehmet put it past a post but other than that I don't recall any chances.That is something we are going to have to work on."

St Mirren's chronic shortage of goals is seriously undermining Gus MacPherson's quest to lead them into the top six for the first time.

The Paisley outfit have scored only twice in six SPL games at Love Street this season and as a result find themselves hovering just above the relegation zone.

Their much improved general play has arguably merited more than the current total of 11 points but they could have little complaint with the outcome at the weekend.

Unable to break down a stubborn Hearts rearguard which was marshalled magnificently by Christophe Berra, Saints were caught out by a classic sucker punch 12 minutes from the end. Eggert Jonsson, who was a revelation beside Berra in central defence, rose to bullet home an Andrew Driver free-kick and earn the Edinburgh side their first win in six matches and only their second since August.

Jonsson said: "We showed a good team spirit. We talked about it at half-time and the manager got us going.

"I'm really pleased we won with 10 men and it is a great boost for us with another game coming up on Wednesday."

Jonsson replaced the suspended Marius Zalukas at centre-half and looked like he'd been playing there for years. Incredibly it was the 20-year-old's first outing in the position although it is unlikely to be the last.

He added: "It's the first time I've played there but Christophe Berra kept me right.

"We have a lot of injuries and Marius is suspended but I was still surprised to be picked.

"I've now played right-back and centre-half but last season I played in midfield.

"I probably prefer midfield as there is more action but I'm still only 20 and I'll play anywhere.

"It's all going to help me develop as a player."

Taken from the Daily Record