Time is not on St Mirren's side

chris tait at tynecastle

21 Mar 2011

ST MIRREN have developed a rather nasty habit this season. It is a compulsion that has thus far denied them participation in a Scottish Cup semi-final, and one which continues to afflict their prospects in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Oddly, such a debilitating idiosyncrasy is apparently only triggered when someone innocently points out there is only 10 minutes or so left to go, whereby the Paisley side become hopelessly susceptible to conceding goals.

They could have picked up such a habit from anywhere. Perhaps their favourite team has started doing it on the television; maybe they felt pressured into it by their peers; or it could simply be a cry for help masquerading as a rebellious act. Whatever the underlying cause, Danny Lennon now finds himself in the familiar position of endeavouring to cure his squad of this condition. The St Mirren manager may feel he is running out of ideas by now, though.

Lennon has tried altering his line-up – captain John Potter and right-back David Van Zanten were replaced in defence, while Jim Goodwin was directed to provide some extra protection from the midfield – but still he was left to bemoan his team's habitual vulnerability in the closing stages. It had all been going so well too.

Michael Higdon had twice put his side ahead, while Hearts were left frustrated as they failed to navigate through an obdurate defence. It would not last. Lennon has two weeks to come up with a solution before a pivotal meeting with bottom side Hamilton Academical, a match which has become integral to both clubs' ambitions of preventing a return to the first division. There are rumours he has already had all the clocks removed from St Mirren Park so his players cannot see when it is time to panic.

That may not be such a bad idea given that other sides have also noticed St Mirren's inability to remain resolute, with some even identifying the latter stages of a match as their best chance to score against the Paisley side. "When Higdon scored his second, Rudi [Skacel] ran by me and said 'they concede late goals, so let's just keep going'," said Ryan Stevenson, who duly equalised around 10 minutes after that insightful comment.

"I was sitting in the house last week watching them against Aberdeen [in the Scottish Cup] and you knew that late goal was coming. Paul Hartley got a free-kick and I said to my wife 'they're going to score', and sure enough they did. They are prone to losing goals late on and managers will maybe point that out and players will have it in their minds."

As much as St Mirren's late defensive frailty is common knowledge, they had shown little indication they were to suffer defeat earlier on at Tynecastle. During the first half in particular Hearts were left harassed and bullied as the visitors imposed themselves on the match with an unexpected assurance.

Steven Thomson and Paul McGowan were relentless forces in midfield; with the latter bombing around the pitch with such exuberance that Hearts' discontent was also shared by those trying to identify his starting position.

McGowan didn't score, though. Skacel did. The Hearts midfielder had been reduced to an irrelevance in the first half but his two goals – the second in stoppage time – ensured his side won for the first time in four matches. It was a record which had left their position in third place looking less comfortable – especially after a midweek defeat to Dundee United.

"When we came away on Wednesday everyone on the bus was asking how many points they were behind us," said Stevenson. "We knew this was a massive game and it speaks volumes that we were able to grind out the result."

He is not the first to reflect positively on a late rally against St Mirren. If the Paisley club are to retain their place in the top flight, Lennon must find a way to ensure he is the last.

15' 0-1 Darren McGregor redirects Kenny McLean's free-kick across goal and Michael Higdon's header creeps in.

55' 1-1 Rudi Skacel arrows in a low shot.

69' 1-2 Aaron Mooy feeds Higdon and the striker outmuscles Andy Webster before finishing.

82' 2-2 Stephen Elliott cushions into the path of Ryan Stevenson who beats Paul Gallacher.

90' 3-2 Craig Thomson's corner bobbles around before landing at the feet of Skacel, who prods it in.

Taken from the Herald