St. Mirren 0-0 Heart of Midlothian

Hearts were made to rue missed chances after being held to a 0-0 draw at St Mirren Park.

In a lively and fast-paced encounter, both sides had chances to win the game but neither Hearts nor their hosts could capitalise on their opportunities.

Despite the lost points, manager Paulo Sergio will be happy with the way his team put St Mirren on the back foot during the second half. Special praise must also go to Marian Kello who rescued Hearts with a couple of world-class saves.

Paulo made just two changes to the side that lost to Kilmarnock last weekend. Ryan McGowan returned to the starting line-up while the suspended Ian Black made way for the creative influence of Mehdi Taouil.

After an impeccably observed minute's silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday next week, the match started slowly with both sides struggling to take an early grip of the game.

Eggert Jonsson was first to threaten on eight minutes when he went close with a powerful drive from 25 yards out.

St Mirren strengthened significantly during the summer and it was one of their new recruits that called the Hearts defence into action after 18 minutes.

Former Scotland international Gary Teale burst into the opposition half before playing a neat ball to David van Zanten, whose shot at goal forced Kello into a diving fingertip save.

The Jambos keeper was tested again just minutes later when a lofted clearance from the St Mirren defence found Paul McGowan in space on the right. A quick one-two with Jereon Tesselaar gifted McGowan the chance to fire at goal from close-range but Kello made an assured two-handed save low to his left.

Hearts responded through Ryan McGowan, whose driving run down the left channel had the St Mirren backline sweating. His cross found Templeton who ran at goal but was cruelly scythed down on the very edge of the box. The away support called for a penalty but a free kick was given, which Skacel could only fire at the St Mirren wall.

Another great save from Marian Kello on 40 minutes from a dipping Steven Thompson shot was the only other action of note in a slow-building but entertaining first half.

If the travelling Jambos were hoping for more excitement in the second-half they were not to be disappointed. Seconds from the re-start, Taouil's trickery on the left wing was followed by an inviting cross which found the head of Jonsson. His attempt caught the St Mirren defence off guard but keeper Samson got down low to parry away from danger.

Making his first change of the match, Paulo Sergio brought on David Obua for Taouil on 56 minutes and the Ugandan made an immediate impact. His surging run into the box and cross met the right foot of Stevenson, whose clever flick-on was blocked.

Obua was again the danger man on 68 minutes when his low shot from just outside the area led to a goal mouth skirmish. Templeton and Stevenson both made efforts to poke the ball home, with St Mirren clearing off their goal line.

Hearts certainly looked more urgent in this second half with Obua and Skacel driving from deep and full-back McGowan getting forward to support the front men.

With 8 minutes remaining a clever run from St Mirren substitute Nigel Hasselbaink forced Kello into a truly world-class save. The striker's shot was hit with power at close range but couldn't make its way past the Hearts keeper who did brilliantly to parry the ball away with one hand.

With the clock ticking down, Obua had the fans on their feet again with a long-range effort that rattled off the goal frame. St Mirren keeper Samson had no chance of getting a hand to the ball and will have been glad to see the ball run along the goal line and away from danger.

That was to be the last meaningful action of an entertaining 0-0 draw, in which neither side could complain at a share of the spoils.

St. Mirren: Samson; van Zanten (Barron 45) Mair, Goodwin, Carey; Thompson, McGowan (Haddad 68), McAusland, McLean; Teale (Hasselbaink 68), Tesselaar. Subs not used: Smith, Thomson, Reilly, McKee.

Hearts: Kello; Hamill, Webster, Zaliukas, McGowan; Mrowiec (Elliott 80) Jonsson; Taouil (Obua 58) Skacel, Templeton (Driver 87); Stevenson. Subs not used: MacDonald, Novikovas, Smith, Driver, Robinson.

Referee: Steve Conroy

Top man: Marian Kello

Hearts World