St Mirren 0 - 0 Hearts

By Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland

A fascinating, but goalless, encounter in Paisley left St Mirren and Hearts with a share of the spoils.

A string of saves by Hearts keeper Marian Kello in the first half maintained the deadlock at the interval, denying David van Zanten, Paul McGowan and Graham Carey.

St Mirren's Steven Thompson headed off the inside of the Hearts' crossbar but the ball failed to cross the line.

And David Obua struck a St Mirren post in the dying minutes.

St Mirren knew that a win would take them above Hearts in the Scottish Premier League table into fifth place and Danny Lennon made one change from the side that beat St Johnstone, Gary Teale returning, with Jon McShane missing with a knee injury.

Hearts were forced into making changes two Danny Grainger and Ian Black missing through suspension so Austrailian Ryan McGowan came in at left back with Mehdi Taouil slotting into the midfield area.

The first chance of the game came for the visitors after seven minutes when Templeton and Stevenson combined to set up Eggert Jonsson, but his shot from the edge of the 18 yard box drifted well wide of Samson's left hand post.

St Mirren were winning a fair amount of the ball in midfield but were struggling to find the killer pass that would open up the Hearts defence.

After 15 minutes David Van Zanten came close to opening the scoring, picking up a pass from Gary Teale just outside the area. His shot was destined for the bottom corner before Marian Kello in the Hearts goal dived low to his right to turn the ball away for a corner.

Hearts responded with a terrific effort from Taouil that was just a few feet away from finding the target.

Saints then were almost in front after Paul McGowan played a one-two with striker Steven Thomson. McGowan driving into the penalty box but again Kello came to Hearts rescue with a stunning one handed save.

Hearts were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the 18 yard box when Templeton tumbled to the ground after a challenge by Goodwin. Skacel's effort though was weak and straight into the Saints wall before being cleared away.

Graham Carey was the next Saints player to test Kello in the Hearts goal with an effort from 30 yards that was heading into the top corner before the Slovakian dived high to his right to tip the ball around the corner.

After the break, the Hearts players came out of the traps quickly and came close through Jonsson. The Iceland international's header from a Taouil cross saved on the line by Samson.

Kello then had to react quickly when Jereon Tesselaar mis-hit a cross into the box that almost sneaked its way into the back of the net.

Saints continued to push forward and a Teale strike was almost deflected into the net by Steven Thompson. The former Rangers striker threw himself at the ball but watched in agony as it clipped the top of the crossbar and over.

At the other end a narrow escape for the home side. Hamill's corner was headed goalwards Obua, but the ball was cleared as far as Skacel only for his effort cleared off the line by Barron.

Kello had been in fine form in the Hearts goal and once again he was called into action. Nigel Hasselbank looked certain to find the back of the net with his shot from inside the box but again Kello somehow managed to turn the ball away.

Hearts almost stole the points with just two minutes left when Obua's effort beat Samson in the Saints goal but crashed off the inside of the post before eventually being cleared away.
Live text and stats

Saturday, 5 November 2011

Scottish Premier
Home Team Score Away Team Time
St Mirren 0-0 Hearts FT
(HT 0-0)

Hide team line-ups and match stats
St Mirren

01 Samson
02 van Zanten (Barron 46)
05 Mair
14 McAusland
22 Tesselaar
06 Goodwin
17 Mclean
21 Teale (Hasselbaink 65)
23 Carey
09 Thompson
10 McGowan (Haddad 65)

Substitutes

12 Smith,
03 Barron,
24 Haddad,
08 Thomson,
13 Mckee,
11 Hasselbaink,
39 Thomas Reilly

Hearts

25 Kello
06 Webster
17 McGowan
26 Zaliukas
02 Hamill
04 Jonsson
12 Templeton (Driver 85)
16 Stevenson
19 Skacel
21 Taouil (Obua 55)
31 Mrowiec (Elliott 78)

Substitutes

30 MacDonald,
13 Obua,
11 Driver,
10 Elliott,
18 Novikovas,
22 Smith,
27 Robinson

Ref: ConroyAtt: 4,771
ST MIRREN
HEARTS
Possession

St Mirren 49%
Hearts 51%

Attempts on target

St Mirren 6
Hearts 5

Attempts off target

St Mirren 6
Hearts 7

Corners

St Mirren 13
Hearts 5

Fouls

St Mirren 7
Hearts 8

Show all live text

Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:02 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+2:51 The ball is sent over by David Barron, clearance by Ryan McGowan.
90:00+2:33 Graham Carey sends in a cross, Ryan McGowan makes a clearance.
90:00+2:03 Graham Carey takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post.
90:00+1:12 Eggert Jonsson concedes a free kick for a foul on Jim Goodwin. Free kick taken by Lee Mair.
87:53 Left-footed shot by David Obua hit the post.
87:04 The ball is delivered by Ryan McGowan, Marc McAusland manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Jamie Hamill, Marc McAusland makes a clearance.
85:48 The ball is crossed by David Barron, clearance by Andy Webster. Shot by Kenny McLean. Blocked by Marius Zaliukas. Corner taken by Graham Carey from the right by-line.
84:27 Substitution Andrew Driver on for David Templeton.
83:53 Corner taken by Graham Carey from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Stephen Elliott.
82:49 Corner taken by Graham Carey.
81:56 The ball is crossed by Nigel Hasselbaink, David Obua manages to make a clearance. Graham Carey takes the inswinging corner, Andy Webster makes a clearance.
81:31 Unfair challenge on Kenny McLean by David Obua results in a free kick. David Barron takes the free kick.
80:15 Graham Carey takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Ryan Stevenson manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Graham Carey, save made by Marian Kello.
79:00 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stephen Elliott on Graham Carey. Free kick taken by Graham Carey. Nigel Hasselbaink takes a shot. Save by Marian Kello.
77:59 Substitution (Hearts) makes a substitution, with Stephen Elliott coming on for Adrian Mrowiec.
76:47 The referee blows for offside. Marian Kello restarts play with the free kick.
75:06 Andy Webster challenges Steven Thompson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Mair takes the indirect free kick. Jeroen Tesselaar sends in a cross, Steven Thompson produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.
74:12 Kenny McLean produces a left-footed shot from long range that goes harmlessly over the bar.
73:38 The ball is delivered by David Templeton, Rudi Skacel produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
72:42 The referee blows for offside against Rudi Skacel. Marc McAusland takes the free kick.
71:54 The ball is crossed by David Templeton.
71:06 The ball is swung over by Ryan McGowan, clearance made by Marc McAusland.
70:08 Rudi Skacel delivers the ball, save by Craig Samson.
68:20 Graham Carey sends in a cross, Kenny McLean takes a shot. Save made by Marian Kello.
66:32 The referee blows for offside. Jamie Hamill takes the indirect free kick.
64:29 Substitution Illias Haddad on for Paul McGowan.
64:29 Substitution Nigel Hasselbaink replaces Gary Teale.
62:30 The ball is delivered by Jamie Hamill, David Barron makes a clearance.
60:22 David Templeton takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson. Inswinging corner taken by Jamie Hamill, David Obua takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson. Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Hamill from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Jim Goodwin.
60:13 David Obua crosses the ball, clearance by Marc McAusland.
59:00 The ball is delivered by David Obua, clearance by Graham Carey.
58:34 Gary Teale gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Webster. Andy Webster takes the indirect free kick.
57:22 Centre by Graham Carey, Steven Thompson takes a shot.
56:43 The ball is crossed by Jeroen Tesselaar, blocked by Jamie Hamill. Corner from the left by-line taken by Gary Teale, David Obua manages to make a clearance.
Correction - 54:50 Substitution David Obua joins the action as a substitute, replacing Mehdi Taouil.
54:50 Substitution Mehdi Taouil goes off and David Obua comes on.
53:16 The referee blows for offside. Marian Kello takes the indirect free kick.
52:45 Unfair challenge on Jim Goodwin by Ryan Stevenson results in a free kick. Marc McAusland takes the free kick.
52:03 Kenny McLean produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.
51:43 David Templeton sends in a cross, clearance made by Craig Samson.
49:53 Jeroen Tesselaar sends in a cross, clearance by Marian Kello. Outswinging corner taken by Graham Carey from the left by-line played to the near post, Adrian Mrowiec manages to make a clearance.
49:42 David Barron delivers the ball, clearance by Jamie Hamill.
48:52 Centre by Jeroen Tesselaar, Andy Webster manages to make a clearance. Graham Carey takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Adrian Mrowiec.
46:55 The ball is crossed by Mehdi Taouil, Eggert Jonsson takes a shot. Save made by Craig Samson.
46:07 Shot by Kenny McLean from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
45:01 Substitution David Barron joins the action as a substitute, replacing David van Zanten.
Half Time
45:00+0:08 The players leave the pitch at half time.
44:39 A cross is delivered by Mehdi Taouil, Marc McAusland gets a block in.
44:09 Free kick awarded for a foul by Adrian Mrowiec on Kenny McLean. Jim Goodwin restarts play with the free kick.
42:13 David van Zanten produces a cross.
42:00 The ball is crossed by Jeroen Tesselaar, clearance by Ryan McGowan.
38:21 Kenny McLean is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Andy Webster takes the indirect free kick.
38:08 The ball is sent over by David Templeton, blocked by Jeroen Tesselaar.
37:26 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mehdi Taouil by Jim Goodwin. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie Hamill.
35:48 Graham Carey takes a shot. Save made by Marian Kello. Corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale from the left by-line, save by Marian Kello.
30:44 Foul by Graham Carey on David Templeton, free kick awarded. Mehdi Taouil restarts play with the free kick. Rudi Skacel takes a shot.
29:49 Jeroen Tesselaar concedes a free kick for a foul on David Templeton. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Webster.
29:19 The ball is sent over by Mehdi Taouil, Lee Mair makes a clearance.
28:39 Jamie Hamill gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Graham Carey. Jim Goodwin restarts play with the free kick.
27:46 Eggert Jonsson has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.
27:23 The assistant referee flags for offside against Steven Thompson. Indirect free kick taken by Marius Zaliukas.
26:54 Mehdi Taouil delivers the ball, Jim Goodwin makes a clearance.
25:14 The ball is sent over by David van Zanten, Marius Zaliukas makes a clearance.
24:40 Effort on goal by Ryan Stevenson from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
22:57 Paul McGowan takes a shot. Save by Marian Kello. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey from the right by-line, Close range shot by Marc McAusland goes wide of the left-hand post.
22:02 Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Hamill, clearance made by Steven Thompson.
21:03 Rudi Skacel takes a shot. Clearance by Kenny McLean. Corner taken by Rudi Skacel, Jim Goodwin manages to make a clearance.
19:44 The official flags Steven Thompson offside. Indirect free kick taken by Marian Kello.
18:15 Shot from long distance by Mehdi Taouil goes wide of the left-hand upright.
14:25 David van Zanten takes a shot from 20 yards. Save by Marian Kello. Corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey, Marius Zaliukas manages to make a clearance.
13:51 Shot by David Templeton. Marc McAusland gets a block in.
12:56 Free kick awarded for a foul by David van Zanten on David Templeton. Free kick taken by David Templeton.
12:16 The referee blows for offside against Gary Teale. Andy Webster takes the free kick.
11:49 The ball is sent over by Kenny McLean.
11:41 A cross is delivered by David van Zanten, clearance by Andy Webster.
10:33 The offside flag is raised against Ryan Stevenson. Craig Samson takes the free kick.
9:35 The ball is swung over by Ryan McGowan.
8:30 Graham Carey crosses the ball, clearance made by Marius Zaliukas.
6:15 Eggert Jonsson has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.
4:41 David Templeton fouled by Paul McGowan, the ref awards a free kick. Eggert Jonsson takes the indirect free kick.
4:01 The ball is swung over by Steven Thompson.
3:22 A cross is delivered by Graham Carey.
1:54 Mehdi Taouil challenges Jim Goodwin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jim Goodwin restarts play with the free kick.
0:24 Foul by Graham Carey on Jamie Hamill, free kick awarded. Jamie Hamill restarts play with the free kick.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

Taken from the BBC