Jambos put turbulent 10 days behind them with Tynecastle win

18 Nov 2012 08:38
By David McCarthy

A DELIGHTED Tynecastle crowd were celebrating a second excellent result after hearing the club had been saved from closure.
Danny Grainger got the only goal of the game Danny Grainger got the only goal of the game

FUNNY how such an ugly deflection can be such a thing of beauty to so many people.

Danny Grainger’s 63rd-minute strike flicked off St Mirren’s Kenny McLean and flew into the top corner, sparking scenes of jubilation among the full house as Hearts ended the most traumatic 10 days in their history with a victory.

In truth it was their second-best result of the day – the news that the club had been saved from closure on December 3 thanks to the success of their share issue was of far greater importance.

But Grainger was thrilled the team played their part by getting the win that leaves Saints in the thick of a relegation fight with Dundee.

He said: “A lot has been going on but we still have a job to do. We’re paid to win games even though the off-field stuff can’t be avoided sometimes.

“The boys wanted to show in this game that playing for Hearts means more to us than just walking on to the pitch.

“It’s a big thing to play for Hearts and we appreciate what the fans have done for the club. As players we’re deferred our wages but the fans have really dug deep.

“We had kids handing in their piggy banks earlier in the week. Things like that have brought us all closer together because we know what this club means to people.

“I know it’s easy to say now we’ve won but we never felt we were going to lose this game. We were always confident and showed that on the pitch.”

The Hearts fans answered the club's plea for help and packed out Tynecastle The Hearts fans answered the club's plea for help and packed out Tynecastle

The sell-out signs were posted outside Tynecastle an hour before kick-off and they weren’t referring to Vladimir Romanov’s decision to wash his hands of the club. In Hearts’ hour of need their supporters answered the call and then some.

Every available seat was filled for the first time in five years and those inside made it their business to tell the world Hearts would not be allowed to die. There is never a lack of atmosphere inside Tynecastle but yesterday 16,443 cranked it up to a new level.

Ten minutes before kick-off John McGlynn led his players and backroom staff on to the pitch to applaud the fans and the appearance of Ryan and Dylan McGowan in the starting line-up was another historic layer on a momentous day for the Jambos.

The Aussie siblings were the first brothers to start a game for Hearts since Frank and Hugh O’Donnell in 1939.

And there was a debut for promising young midfielder Jamie Walker who showed his nose for goal after 10 minutes, steaming in off the left to power in a header that was saved by Craig Samson.

The game wasn’t much of a spectacle but Hearts were doing most of the pressing and a neat exchange on the edge of the box between Jason Holt and Ryan Stevenson ended with the striker fizzing a low right-foot shot just wide.

St Mirren's Paul Dummett (left) rises to challenge Ryan Stevenson St Mirren's Paul Dummett (left) rises to challenge Ryan Stevenson

Hearts played with more purpose in the second half and Stevenson wasn’t far away with an effort on the turn after good work from Walker.

Saints striker Steven Thompson then clattered into Andy Webster but no action was taken and it was all becoming a bit feisty although the quality was still missing.

McGlynn threw on Arvydas Novikovas for Callum Paterson in the 61st minute and within 60 seconds the Lithuanian had played a small part in Hearts taking the lead.

Jim Goodwin fouled Webster 22 yards out and Novikovas’ first touch was to tap the free-kick sideways to Grainger, whose left peg did the rest with a vicious shot that flicked off McLean and dipped over Samson.

The Buddies threw on attackers Dougie Imrie, Sam Parkin and Jon Robertson before McLean tested Jamie MacDonald with a swerving free-kick and McAusland saw a header cleared off the line by Holt.

But these are worrying times for St Mirren. They are now just a point ahead of Dundee, who visit Paisley next week.

Taken from the Daily Record