St Mirren 1 - 1 Hearts: All square in entertaining contest

Published Date: 03 April 2010
By BARRY ANDERSON
AT NEW ST MIRREN PARK
Goals:
St Mirren: Carey 44
Hearts: Zaliukas 47

A SCORE draw was a justifiable outcome from this entertaining encounter in Paisley which will marginally help the respective causes of the teams involved.

At the end of a first half controlled largely by St Mirren, full-back Graham Carey struck an unstoppable free-kick past Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald having threatened to do so twice beforehand. That accorded the home side an advantage which Marius Zaliukas cancelled out upon the restart by heading Suso's cross powerfully into goal from close range.

Hearts, still pursuing a top-six spot, were the dominant team throughout the second period but could not force a second goal for three precious points. They now host Kilmarnock next weekend looking to secure sixth place, while St Mirren's endeavours to avert relegation from the SPL continue.

After a lengthy pre-match confab involving the Hearts doctor, manager Jim Jefferies, assistant Billy Brown and Larry Kingston, it was decided that the Ghanaian's illness prevented him being selected for this match. His replacement in the starting line-up was Andy Driver in the only alteration from last weekend. St Mirren made three changes, the most notable being Michael Higdon's return in place of the injured Craig Dargo.

It was the hosts who conducted most of the early probing. On 23 minutes, after David Obua fouled Carey, the St Mirren full-back angled an awkward free-kick goalwards which bounced a yard in front of MacDonald. He confidently pushed the ball wide for a corner, after which Hugh Murray drove a harmless shot into the advertising boards.

Ian Black sent a left-footed attempt spinning past St Mirren's right post from 20 yards on 32 minutes, and moments later Gary Glen struck high with his left from an inside-left position. Hearts owed MacDonald a huge debt of gratitude for maintaining a blank scoreline from another of Carey's free-kicks. Jason Thomson fouled the marauding defender 25 yards from goal, and he rose to his feet to deliver a venomous set-piece which the airborne MacDonald palmed to safety.

However, Carey was in no mood to be denied. A minute from the interval, after Jonsson's foul on Higdon, he again cracked the resultant free-kick goalwards and rendered MacDonald helpless with the sweetest of strikes high into the Hearts net. As he set off to celebrate, the visitors could not deny they had been warned of his set-piece threat.

Having played within themselves for most of the first period, it was expected that a more motivated Hearts side would return after the interval. Their revitalisation was exemplified by the equalising goal on 47 minutes. Driver's left-sided corner was collected by Suso on the opposite flank, and he pivoted clear of Carey to drive the ball across the face of goal. Zaliukas had remained forward to divert a downward header beyond Gallacher and restore parity.

St Mirren identified Suso as the resident dangerman and on 54 minutes Lee Mair led with an elbow in an aerial challenge with the Spaniard, catching him on the temple of the head. However, referee Iain Brines chose not to penalise the centre-back. Minutes later Higdon connected with Lee Wallace in the act of dispossessing the full-back but again play continued until Jonsson blocked Steven Thomson's eventual shot. St Mirren appealed for a penalty on the hour mark when Billy Mehmet fell to ground under pressure from Jonsson, but only after the ball landed outwith his reach.

With the game simmering Brines had a difficult task to maintain order. From Hearts' perspective, conceding fouls in their own half of the field brought the dread of another set-piece delivery from the left foot of Carey.

David Obua stung Gallacher's palms from distance as the game entered its closing stage with Hearts enjoying concerted pressure. Ian Black suffered a head wound and was replaced by Craig Thomson, and before long the teenager was testing Gallacher's agility with a powerful drive which the goalkeeper diverted for a corner.

With four minutes remaining Hearts supporters endured the harrowing sight of Driver being withdrawn through injury. The Englishman appeared to pull up whilst pursuing a pass into space and was replaced by David Templeton. Calum Elliot was introduced shortly after in an attempt to prise a late winning goal.

MacDonald was required to claw Higdon's injury-time shot to safety and Elliot's header from Wallace's cross was repelled by Gallacher, leaving the end result of a point apiece looking like a fair reflection of events.

St Mirren (3-5-2): Gallacher; Innes, Potter, Mair; Ross, Thomson, Murray, Dorman, Carey; Mehmet, Higdon. Subs: Howard, O'Donnell 86 (for Ross), Brady, Loy 83 (for Mehmet), McLennan, Johnston.

Hearts (4-4-2): MacDonald; J Thomson, Jonsson, Zaliukas, Wallace; Suso, Black, Palazuelos, Driver; Glen, Obua. Subs: Ridgers, Stevenson, Nade, Elliot 89 (for Glen), Templeton 87 (for Driver), Mulrooney, C Thomson 76 (for J Thomson), Robinson.

Referee: Iain Brines.

Attendance: 4204.

Taken from the Scotsman