Hearts 0-1 St Johnstone

Peter MacDonald's late goal sent St Johnstone through to the the Scottish Cup fifth round after a gritty encounter at Tynecastle stadium.

Hearts had the best of a scrappy first half but could not find a goal.

The game improved considerably in the second period, and Samuel went close for Saints while Hearts' David Obua conspired to miss from three yards out.

But MacDonald struck from close range with four minutes remaining to send the visitors through to the next round.

With the game being rescheduled after postponement on Sunday because of broken pipes, both teams knew that victory would be rewarded with a home tie against either Falkirk or Partick Thistle.

But this did not seem to have inspired the fans, with a turnout of just 6,261 at Tynecastle.

The game started in an open manner with both sides pushing forward, and it was Hearts striker Marius Zaliukas who had the first effort on goal, but his long-range drive flew wide.

It was proving to be a fast, frenetic encounter, but perhaps both sides needed to take a bit more time with the final ball when attacking, as moves broke down in the final third.

Once Hearts settled, Arvydas Novikovas flashed the ball across the face of goal, but it was too far away from Kevin Kyle who was set to pounce inside the six-yard box.

The home side were creating more and Stephen Elliott fired the ball fiercely across the goalmouth after picking off a sloppy Chris Millar pass, but again Kyle could not connect with the cross under pressure from Michael Duberry.

Saints carved out a rare chance in the home box when Sam Parkin turned and shot, but the big striker put the ball wide of the mark.

And Samuel then saw his header from Millar's cross saved by Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald as Saints ended the opening period with a late flurry.

Right-back Dave Mackay took advantage of some slack Hearts defending to head the ball across the face of goal, but no Saints attacker had gambled and the home side escaped losing a goal, although the home defenders did not escape the wrath of manager Jim Jefferies.

But Grainger then had to spare his keeper's blushes as he headed the ball over his own bar after Peter Enckelman had flapped at a cross and missed it completely.

The game had improved immensely and was raging from end to end, but a poor first touch from Samuel left the Trinidadian facing a tight angle after being released in the Hearts box, and his shot went harmlessly wide.

The introduction of David Templeton galvanised Hearts as an attacking force and Enckelman had to look smart to snuff out a dangerous ball with Ismael Bouzid lurking in the box.

Fellow substitute David Obua then missed the best chance of the evening from three yards after Ruben Palazuelos had laid the ball across goal, but the Ugandan somehow scooped his shot over the bar.

It was a moment which seemed to sum up the match as both sides struggled to find a way past well-organised defences.

However, MacDonald pounced on Bouzid's failed attempt at a clearance to stab the ball into the net and seemingly claim Saints' place in the next round with his first goal of the season.

The drama had not ended, however, as Elliott lashed a close-range shot goalwards with seconds of injury time remaining only for Enckelman to pull off the save of the evening to deny the Irishman and eliminate Hearts from the cup.

Taken from the BBC