St.Mirren 2 Hearts 0

Written by B&W Army Webteam.

St Mirren rediscovered their lost form this evening following a comfortable 2-0 victory over Heart of Midlothian at St Mirren Park. First half goals from McGowan and goal of the season contender from Graham Carey sealed a deserved and much needed win over their League Cup Final opponents.

Danny Lennon revitalised his team for this match with five changes from Saturday’s defeat to St Johnstone in Perth. Jim Goodwin suffered a recent injury, while David van Zanten, Steven Thompson, Kenny McLean and Esmael Goncalves were dropped the bench. Replacing them were Lee Mair, Graham Carey, David Barron Lewis Guy and Sam Parkin respectively. Marc McAusland proudly donned the Captain’s armband at the tender age of 24.

The first half was a rather tepid affair bereft of clear-cut chances. However the link up play was impressive, the individual performances vastly improved and a confidence regained, presumably through the freshness arising from a rejuvenated team selection.

The match could not have started any brighter for the hosts. After just three minutes, Graham Carey swung in a corner from the right and referee Kevin Clancy penalised Darren Barr for a challenge on Lee Mair better suited to Murrayfield than St Mirren Park. Paul McGowan stepped forward and sent Jamie MacDonald the wrong way to give the hosts a delightful early lead, and their first league goal in almost a month.

Craig Samson was called into action just a few minutes later. The big keeper palmed away a Jamie Walker shot from outside the area that packed a fair amount of swerve.

The flow of St Mirren’s play was unrecognisable from the previous fortnight. The bowling green surface really suited a homesick Saints who had endured the rough terrains of Pittodrie and McDiarmid Park in recent weeks, and some wonderful sweeping play led to a glorious Carey cross. Lewis Guy was offside as his header bounced over via the smooth surface, yet it was an example the acres of space in the middle of the park and in the wide positions that were gratefully used by the confident Buddies.

Barr had evidently not learned the finer art of tackling with a crunching challenge on Graham Carey on the half hour mark, which rightly merited a booking. David NGoo tested Samson with a tame shot low to the keeper’s right after teeing himself up with some neat footwork. Carey was involved once more when his teasing cross was glanced just wide by Sam Parkin, just a couple of minutes before half time, and just preceding a moment of sheer brilliance from the Irish winger.
As the poor shivering souls left for the pie-stalls to escape a lacklustre encounter, they would perhaps have been equally warmed by the Buddies’ second goal as much as their half-time bovrils. Carey picked up the ball well inside his own half. He worked his way over the half-way line before playing a one-two with Paul McGowan. He then surged forward whilst simultaneously travelling back to the year 2010, and unleashed a blistering swerving drive up and over MacDonald from 35 yards. The brilliance very much reflected the Graham Carey of old, and cued the half time whistle at a very welcome time as Hearts looked bemused at the recent events.

John Sutton was introduced at half time for Arvydas Novikovas, much to the anticipatory groans of the home support. The former Saints striker proceeded to fall rather spectacularly under a physical tussle with Lee Mair, but referee Clancy saw no infringement and play raged on.

Carey nearly emulated his heroics from the first half after curling a searing effort towards goal that was held comfortably by MacDonald. Hearts midfielder Walker was to sting Samson’s palms once more with a low angled drive that was beaten away to safety.

There was a penalty shout minutes later as the ball struck the arm of Wilson in among a crowd of bodies, but Clancy deemed the incident purely accidental. Walker posed the Saints defence more problems as he dragged wide following some tricky individual play, while McGowan and NGoo would follow suit within minutes of one another as the status quo remained.

The hosts were running out of ideas in the attacking third, but their focus remained firmly on defending as Hearts launched a frail revival. Dougie Imrie, David Barron and Kenny McLean replaced Lewis Guy, David van Zanten and Paul McGowan as the game burned to its dying embers. Carey displayed his enigmatic side by nearly taking the roof off the South Stand with a rather wayward free kick, before Clancy brought the game to its timely conclusion.

The product on offer was rather indifferent, played in front of a sparse crowd in biting temperatures. Nevertheless the three points is a superb lift for a rather jaded side of late. It takes the team off the 11th position they’ve practically been refurbishing while leapfrogging Hearts into 10th. The Buddies face Dundee at Dens Park this time next week where a further three points would propel a late surge towards the top six, however there is important Scottish Cup duty to attend to before then.
As dress rehearsals go, this will do nicely when the curtains go up on March 17th.