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| <-Page | <-Team | Wed 29 Dec 2010 St Mirren 0 Hearts 2 | Team-> | Page-> |
| <-Srce | <-Type | Daily Record ------ Report | Type-> | Srce-> |
| Jim Jefferies 2nd | <-auth | Hugh Keevins | auth-> | Crawford Allan |
| ----- | John Paul Potter | |||
| 7 | of 007 | David Templeton 63 ;Kevin Kyle pen 82 | L SPL | A |
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St Mirren 0 Hearts 2 Dec 30 2010 Hugh Keevins DAVID TEMPLETON'S credentials as Hearts' talisman are intact after another solo goal maintained their outstanding run in Paisley. And it was Templeton's dazzling run at the St Mirren defence which prompted John Potter to bring him down and concede the penalty that let Kevin Kyle score the second goal that finished the match eight minutes from time. Potter was sent off for his foul on the player who was then substituted to a standing ovation from a Hearts following who delighted in chanting "Bring on the Hibee". Their confidence was belatedly developed because the truth of the matter was that Templeton, Kyle and just about everybody else in maroon has played better than this and not won games. But that would have been the last of Jim Jefferies' worries as he at least discovered his side was willing to stick at their task even if freeflowing football was denied them for long periods on the night. The momentum Hearts have built up on the back of a long run without defeat has built a strength of character that is obvious. Their pre-match warm-up had lasted half an hour before St Mirren even emerged from the tunnel, and small wonder. With only one defeat in their 10 previous league matches, Hearts are obviously enjoying their football and their success has clearly been based on meticulous preparation. But Paul McGowan provided an immediate reminder of the need for vigilance when he came close to opening the scoring for the home side inside the first five minutes. His volleyed shot went narrowly past and when Michael Higdon fired beyond the same right-hand post for the Paisley side the impression was their Boxing Day win in Inverness had done their confidence no harm. Sadly for McGowan it was his last meaningful contribution to the match. The striker on loan from Celtic had to go off injured and be replaced by Craig Dargo 20 minutes into the game. And the wake-up call had the desired effect on Hearts. No fewer than six corners were forced in quick succession as the visitors laid siege to the home goal, but without doing anything to trouble Paul Gallacher. Jefferies was prowling the technical area with a growing sense of frustration building up over Hearts' ineffective progress. And a travelling support of Old Firm proportions in size sat on their hands, waiting for something genuine to enthuse over. St Mirren matched the more fancied side for determination and effort, meaning Hearts were obliged to raise their game. Before they could take that lesson on board, Steven Thomson forced Hearts keeper Jamie McDonald to sprint from his line and parry another Saints effort for a corner. It was all building up towards one of Jefferies' fabled dressing-room rants at the interval to get more out of his players. The game up until the break had been a disappointment and failed to live up to pre-match hype. The only player to have distinguished himself for Hearts was Rudi Skacel. His unavailability for Hearts made him look an even better player in his absence while the rest of the team struggled. But Calum Elliot did strike the post before the manager could get his players indoors for a serious review of their display. Hearts lifted the tempo after the resumption and looked as lively as they had been lacklustre at the start of the match. Ian Black went close with one effort and Templeton tried to make amends for his earlier efforts with a shot at goal, but it was higher than his hopes of a goal and the attempt cleared the bar by a distance. The disappointment of the moment wasn't long lasting because Templeton then discovered where he'd left his form and put his team in front after 63 minutes. A solo run with a decent break of the ball at one point took Templeton past the Saints defence and let him slip the ball behind Gallacher. The effect of the goal was to galvanise Hearts and provide a test of St Mirren's character. The Paisley side had not lacked self-belief prior to the goal being scored with Dargo and Higdon both employed up front as Saints, like Hearts, missed out the midfield. Saints created chances but wasted them as Sean Lynch's drive climbed high enough to hit the roof of the stand behind MacDonald's goal. Then Dargo squandered a headed chance which ought to have broken the deadlock. The monotony of missed chances was only broken up by Darren McGregor being booked for a foul on Ryan Stevenson. It was a caution that followed the calamity of working so hard and yet falling behind. A harsh lesson for the home side that nothing can be taken for granted, no matter how long it takes the opposition to warm up. St Mirren - Gallacher 6, van Zanten 6, McAusland 5 (Mooy 79, 4), Potter 5, Travner 5, Cregg 6 (Barron 85, 3), McGregor 5, Thomson 7, Lynch 5, McGowan 5 (Dargo 23, 5), Higdon 5. Subs not used: Samson, McLean, Lamont, McQuade. Hearts - MacDonald 6, Jonsson 6, Bouzid 6, Zaliukas 6, Palazuelos 6, Black 6, Mrowiec 6, Elliot 6 (Obua 78, 5), Stevenson 6, Templeton 7 (Novikovas 84, 4), Kyle 6. Subs: Balogh, Wallace, Barr, Obua, Novikovas, Glen, C Thomson. Referee - C Allan. |
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| <-Page | <-Team | Wed 29 Dec 2010 St Mirren 0 Hearts 2 | Team-> | Page-> |
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