Deja view is a a poor draw

Richard Winton
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15 Aug 2010

THIS was it, the winner.

A goal that confirmed what they had all suspected; that would give them the three points with just five minute remaining; that would frank the belief that if only they had had a striker last season, things would be different.

Kevin Kyle had risen magnificently to angle Arvydas Novikovas’ delivery across goal. Goalkeeper Peter Enckelman had been caught under the ball and Stephen Elliot was lurking underneath the crossbar, a debut notch just a nudge of his head away.

The Hearts supporters rose, the roars gathering in their throats, ready to herald an opening win. But then, somehow, the totemic Michael Duberry managed to nudge the ball over the crossbar to leave the Tynecastle crowd with a familiar feeling.

All too often last season, draws were scant reward for dominant displays in Gorgie, a lack of penetration punished. The summer signings of Kyle and Elliott were expected to be the answer to such profligacy, and may well prove to be, but neither contributed more than half an hour yesterday, a lack of match sharpness initially confining them to the bench.

The duo may have given Hearts more presence, but it diluted their creativity and that is something Jim Jefferies will have to ponder over the coming days. The guile of Suso Santana, roaming behind goalscorer Calum Elliot, and the inventiveness of David Templeton coming in off the left, helped the hosts find pockets of space and create chances in the opening half and, indeed, inside the couple of minutes, the young winger had already skidded a shot just wide and had another that rippled the rigging disallowed for offside.

It was an enthusiastic start from the hosts and one they strived to maintain. Elliot had a low drive held by Peter Enckelman and Craig Thomson should have done better than slash an ugly half-volley over the crossbar after a deep Lee Wallace cross found him at the back post, but that same source would eventually be plundered as the interval approached.

Wallace, revived after a timid performance for Scotland in Stockholm, set off down the left and, after his initial delivery was blocked, flashed a ball towards the near post, where Elliot had sufficient space to guide his header high into the net and spark a Tynecastle tumult. “We got crosses in and caused them problems and I thought Calum had a very fine game,” Jefferies said. “So there are positive to take.”

The goal Hearts conceded, coming less than a minute after they established their advantage, would not have ranked among them. Darren Barr should not have lost a simple header, while St Jonhstone’s Cleveland Taylor – on for Danny Grainger after the left-back injured a knee colliding with the goal frame – should not have been allowed to circumvent Jason Thomson as easily as he did down the left, and Sam Parkin should not have been afforded such space to angle a header beyond Marian Kello.

Jefferies, whose exasperation increased exponentially, took just over an hour to decide a revision was required. Kyle and Elliott were introduced, with the guttural outpouring that greeted the changes indicative of the familiar frustration.

Yet it was from another source that Hearts’ encouragement came. Suso, who had been shunted to a more orthodox right-sided role, received the ball to feet but was felled by a clumsy Steven Anderson challenge from behind. The ensuing red card – waved with such enthusiasm by Stevie O’Reilly that it flew from his hand – appeared harsh. “It was a stupid challenge and I’m not going to defend it, but it’ll be interesting to see if that is a red card later on in the season,” said Derek McInnes, the St Johnstone manager, choosing his words carefully.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs, Hearts had 20 minutes to find a winner against 10 men, but couldn’t. In fact, their paucity of creativity was such that they fashioned just that one chance. It looked like it would be enough, but instead it turned out to be the same old story.

Elliot 45

Parkin 45

Kello

J Thomson Barr Zaliukas Wallace

C Thomson Black Palazuelos Templeton

Suso C Elliot

Enckelman

Mackay Duberry Anderson Grainger

Millar Morris Davidson Craig

Haber Parkin

Taken from the Herald