St Johnstone 2 Hearts 1

Mar 25 2012 By Euan McLean

FRAN SANDAZA blasted Hearts for using dirty tricks in an attempt to put him off the penalty that clinched a vital victory for St Johnstone.

The Spanish striker held his nerve to fire home the 77th-minute spot-kick after a lengthy delay caused by Jambos players arguing with the ref, encroaching in the box and even churning up the penalty spot with their studs.

While the Hearts stars felt hard done by over the penalty decision, Sandaza was disgusted by their antics.

He said: “It was not fair play and I didn’t like it. They dug up the spot and tried to annoy me by saying I would miss.

“It was a clear penalty so they should let me get on with it but they tried to disrupt my concentration. I didn’t let them. During the delay I was just trying to be calm and looking at the goal. I knew from the start I wanted to shoot up the middle and had to focus.

“Penalties are easy to miss and I know how that feels afterwards – you want to kill yourself.

“But it is my responsibility to take them and I am happy to have scored two weeks in a row to win the three points.”

Sandaza’s strike sealed a huge win for the Perth men who battled back from a goal down to put themselves four points ahead of a Hearts side that still have a lot of work to do to safeguard their place in the top six.

A glance at the starting line-up didn’t look promising for Hearts, with Ian Black and Jamie Hamill resting on the bench after their midweek Scottish Cup exploits against St Mirren and hitman Craig Beattie failing a late fitness test.

In came Scott Robinson and Jason Holt who fired an early warning to the hosts with a decent drive that slid wide.

It was a promising start from the 19-year-old and it got even better in the 29th minute when he marked his first start with his debut goal for the club.

Jamie McGowan made a dash down the right then delivered a tempting low cross that Holt met cleanly with his swinging right foot to tuck the ball inside Alan Mannus’s left post.

But Saints didn’t trail for long as in-form Murray Davidson once again proved his worth 10 minutes before the break.

His volley wasn’t the sweetest connection you’ll ever see but the timing of his run was key as he hit Dave Mackay’s cross past Jamie MacDonald.

A hip injury saw the Hearts keeper replaced by Mark Ridgers, making his competitive debut for the club, and he had to pick the ball out of the net in the 76th minute.

Zaliukas, who had gifted a penalty to St Mirren in the midweek Scottish Cup replay, conceded another for a trip on Sandaza.

Ref Steven McLean had no doubts about pointing to the spot and Sandaza blasted the penalty down the middle.

Hearts fought hard for a point but had no luck in front of goal.

Andrew Driver headed a Santana cross wide at the back post and Gary Glen slid in to meet a Driver cross only for his shot to come back off the near post.

Taken from the Daily Record