St Mirren 2 Hearts 0: Graham Carey's wonder goal lifts Saints

28 Feb 2013 08:40

By David McCarthy

IT was a night of positives for Saints as they bagged three points, leapfrogged Hearts, rested players ahead of Saturday’s cup clash with Celtic and scored a dream of a goal.
St Mirren's players celebrate Graham Carey's goal in their match with Hearts. St Mirren's players celebrate Graham Carey's goal in their match with Hearts.
Jeff Holmes/SNS Group

NOT a bad night this for Danny Lennon’s men.

Three points, leapfrogging Hearts, resting a clutch of players ahead of Saturday’s cup clash with Celtic and scoring a goal that will live a lot longer in the memory than anything else that went on in Paisley last night.

Graham Carey scored with a strike that Gareth Bale would have been proud to claim, a scorcher that flew more than 30 yards from his left boot into the roof of Jamie MacDonald’s net to consign Hearts to a defeat that now sees them sit second bottom of the league.

It’s hard to see the Tynecastle club finishing any higher, such are the lack of options available to manager John McGlynn. And on this evidence, St Mirren will go in as favourites when these teams meet again at Hampden in the League Cup Final on March 17.

The first blow was self-inflicted by the visitors, Darren Barr conceding a needless penalty after just three minutes. Paul McGowan converted from the spot but it was Carey’s strike that warmed the St Mirren fans’ hearts as they made their way home on a bitterly cold night.

St Mirren Paul McGowan, St Mirren Paul McGinn, Hearts, Paul McGowan celebrates his opener for St Mirren against Hearts with Paul McGinn.
Jeff Holmes/SNS Group

Saints had failed to score in their last three matches, picking up just one point in the process. That run of form saw them slip to second bottom of the table but before kick-off they were 15 points clear of Dundee – a luxury that allowed boss Lennon to go into this match with one eye on the cup clash with Celtic.

He kept David van Zanten, Steven Thompson and Esmael Goncalves on the bench. Lewis Guy and Sam Parkin were paired up front but it’s fair to assume they won’t be for the Scottish Cup quarter-final.

Hearts have also struggled of late and went into the game only a point ahead of their hosts.

McGlynn has little option but to go with youth these days, although there was a little bit of experience on the bench in the shape of John Sutton and Mehdi Taouil.

But their defence has leaked nine goals in the last three games and McGlynn was hoping the return of Barr, who slotted in for Fraser Mullen at right-back, would cure the defensive headache that was evident in more ways than one.

Barr and Danny Wilson emerged wearing identical bandages to cover the horrendous head knocks they suffered when they collided in the defeat to Kilmarnock on February 16.

And within three minutes Barr was holding his bandaged napper in his hands after giving away a penalty that could have been avoided if he hadn’t had his hands round Lee Mair at Saints’ first corner.

It was the kind of thing Juventus got away with all night at Parkhead recently but referee Kevin Clancy was having none of that nonsense and didn’t hesitate. His decisiveness was matched by McGowan as the midfielder stepped up to send Jamie MacDonald the wrong way.

Barr’s night wasn’t getting any better and in the 29th minute he was booked for a foul on Carey. But Hearts were inching their way into the game and getting a bit of joy from Jamie Walker’s promptings on the right.

Hearts Danny Wilson, Darren Barr St Mirren, Danny Wilson and Darren Barr were in the wars against St Mirren.
Jeff Holmes/SNS Group

Parkin produced a flashing header that flew just wide after a terrific left-wing cross from Carey as the interval approached but there was still time for Saints to add to their lead.

And it was a contender for goal of the season from Carey, whose left foot is as good as anybody’s in the SPL.
Danny Lennon says Graham Carey super strike was worthy of Gareth Bale

He used it to take a touch, advance to 30 yards and smash a viciously dipping thunderbolt past MacDonald’s flailing arms.

McGlynn had to do something and he threw on Sutton for Ardyvas Novikovas, while Barr stayed indoors and Dylan McGowan was given a run at right-back.

And they were denied a blatant penalty in the 54th minute when Mair clearly held back Sutton as the sub tried to get on the end of a punt forward from Kevin McHattie.

Hearts were raging at being denied a foothold back into the match and their anger was understandable.

McHattie then set up Walker for a shot that was beaten away by Samson and Hearts had to be admired for not being prepared to accept that this might not be their night.

Taken from the Daily Record