St Johnstone 2 Hearts 2: Murray Davidson owed me an assist, says goal hero Steven MacLean

16 Dec 2012 08:36

MacLEAN says he knew Davidson would set him up - because he owes him for the lifts he's been giving him to training.
Steven MacLean and Rowan Vine celebrate Steven MacLean and Rowan Vine celebrate

SAINTS hero Steven MacLean insists he wasn’t surprised to see Murray Davidson setting him up to score – because the midfield ace owed him one.

The Perth men fell behind in this clash to John Sutton’s 14th-minute header but Rowan Vine squared it just a minute later.

Andy Driver edged the Edinburgh outfit ahead again before the break but MacLean struck on the hour to level after great set-up work from star man Davidson.

And MacLean revealed after the match there was never any danger of Davidson being too greedy to pick out a pass.

The hitman said: “I didn’t think Murray would go himself because I travel with him and the big man owes me one because I keep giving him lifts.

“It was about time he gave me a goal and I’ve been telling him that for weeks.

“We come up from the Borders together and he doesn’t put his hand in his pocket for a pint – so he was due me a goal!”

Injury-hit Saints were minus several key defenders including Frazer Wright and Dave Mackay and despite losing two preventable goals, MacLean was full of praise for the Perth men’s attacking performance.

He added: “A team is going to come here and we’re going to give them a right hiding. We play some good stuff.

“We battered Hibs and never got the result and were the better side by far today.”

Jambos boss John McGlynn stuck with the strike pairing of Gordon Smith and Sutton and was rewarded early on.
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Driver’s free-kick should have been meat and drink but the Saints defence parted to give Sutton a free header, which he planted expertly beyond Alan Mannus.

Saints squared it within a minute though when winger Peter Pawlett fed Gary Miller and his looping cross was bundled home by the determined Vine from three yards.

Pawlett passed up a great chance to edge Saints ahead before Hearts hit the front again eight minutes before the break. Ryan McGowan’s long throw was helped on by Sutton and allowed to bounce through to the far post where Driver fired it home.

Pawlett wasted another fine chance in 56 minutes after going one-on-one with Jambos keeper Jamie MacDonald but MacLean spared his blushes on the hour.

Callum Davidson played a magnificent diagonal pass to namesake Murray and the midfielder’s clever ball across the six-yard box was rammed home by MacLean.

McGowan then denied MacLean an 80th- minute winner with a superb block.

Taken from the Daily Record