St Johnstone 2-2 Hearts: Hearts forced to settle for a point in Perth

By BARRY ANDERSON AT McDIARMID PARK
Published on Saturday 15 December 2012 17:29

ST JOHNSTONE’S defiance forced Hearts to settle for a point in Perth as goals from John Sutton and Andy Driver were cancelled out by Rowan Vine and Steven MacLean.

Scorers:

St Johnstone - Vine 16, MacLean 60

Hearts - Sutton 14, Driver 38

Twice the visitors led, only to be hauled back by their resilient hosts in what was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining SPL match.

Hearts looked dangerous in attack with Sutton partnered by Gordon Smith, whilst St Johnstone made the most of limited resources to field a team that caused Hearts plenty trouble in the second half. MacLean and Vine look like a particularly productive attacking partnership for manager Steve Lomas, who watched from the stand due to his touchline ban.

Without Dave Mackay, Frazer Wright, Steven Anderson and Chris Millar, Lomas fielded a makeshift defence which included David McCracken returning from a fractured cheekbone. Early shots from Hearts’ Smith and Callum Paterson did not trouble St Johnstone, although it was notable how purposefully Driver had started the match.

Two goals inside 90 seconds ignited the first half. Driver floated a free-kick on to Sutton’s head for a precise downward header into the corner of Alan Mannus’ net to give Hearts the advantage. It lasted just over a minute, when Gary Miller’s right-sided cross skimmed the head of Marius Zaliukas and fell perfectly for Vine to convert from close range.

After that flurry of activity, Hearts continued attacking sensing they would garner more scoring chances with Sutton dominating St Johnstone’s rearranged back line. He was winning every aerial duel and linking with Smith to good effect. From the Englishman’s head flick, his striking partner shot high under minimal pressure.

The hosts ventured forward after 27 minutes and, when Vine slid a through ball into Peter Pawlett’s path, the young midfielder was only denied by an expert block by the advancing Jamie MacDonald. Yet just as St Johnstone looked to be building momentum slightly, Hearts scored again. Sutton flicked Ryan McGowan’s long throw into Driver’s path for a one-touch finish at the back post.

There was controversy in the dying seconds of the first half when Darren Barr reacted angrily to an uncompromising tackle from Patrick Cregg, his former Falkirk colleague. Only Barr was cautioned by referee William Collum, must to the disgust of the Hearts support. To compound the Hearts player’s misery, he was unable to return for the second half and was replaced by Dylan McGowan.

Smith wasted a glaring opportunity five minutes after the restart after another of Sutton’s knockdowns. At the opposite end, MacDonald produced another excellent save to deny Pawlett and Paterson executed a crucial block on Liam Cregg’s attempt to score the rebound. Seconds later, Kevin McHattie cleared Steven MacLean’s effort off the Hearts goal line as the visitors found themselves under concerted pressure for the first time in the game.

They cracked on the hour mark when Murray Davidson’s incisive run into the penalty area ended with a low ball across goal for the unmarked MacLean to tap into the net. Hearts appealed in vain for offside as the striker, previously on trial at Riccarton, sprinted off to celebrate.

St Johnstone were not content at 2-2, though, and kept probing. After Sutton kicked fresh air trying to clear, substitute Gregory Tade found himself in behind the Hearts defence. MacDonald dived at the striker’s feet to smother the ball, which broke for MacLean to seemingly stroke into the unguarded net. However, he hadn’t reckoned for Ryan McGowan sliding in to clear at the last second.

Eventually this pulsating encounter came to an end. For four goals in total and a thoroughly entertaining football match overall, both sides deserved enormous credit.

St Johnstone (4-4-2): Mannus; Miller, McCracken, Scobbie, C Davidson; Pawlett (Tade 69), Cregg, M Davidson, Craig; Vine (Hasselbaink 88), MacLean. Subs: Tuffey, Moon, Beattie, Caddis, Rodger.

Hearts (4-4-2): MacDonald; R McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, McHattie; Paterson (Novikovas 84), Barr (D McGowan 46), Stevenson, Driver; Sutton, G Smith (Carrick 78). Subs: Enckelman, Walker, Prychynenko, B King.

Referee: William Collum. Attendance: 2974.

Taken from the Scotsman