Saints 2-0 Hearts

Report of match 27th February 2013
Reporter Stuart Gillespie

Saints ended the wait for a goal and a win this evening as a Paul McGowan penalty and a wonder strike from Graham Carey gave them a victory over Hearts.

In the process we finally managed to haul ourselves off of 11th, although the top six dream is still over unless a miracle happens. We desperately needed a win and this one gives us a slight psychological edge over Hearts ahead of next month's cup final - although it could work in reverse and they may be out for revenge!

Perhaps that game was playing on Danny Lennon's mind as he picked the team as he decided not to give too much away, or maybe he wanted to rest some players ahead of Saturday's Scottish Cup game against Celtic. Either way it was a rather odd team selection that had many Buddies scratching their heads. Rumours that Jim Goodwin is injured proved true, while also out went David van Zanten, Kenny McLean, Steven Thompson and Esmael Goncalves! In came Lee Mair, David Barron, Graham Carey, Lewis Guy and Sam Parkin.

It took just four minutes for the changes to have an impact, Mair being fouled when he went up for a corner and McGowan tucking away the penalty.

Craig Samson had to make saves from both Jamie Walker and Michael Ngoo before Carey doubled the lead with the last kick of the first half, belting the ball into the net from 35 yards. A terrific strike - for some reason he likes to produce them against Hearts!

The Jambos changed things for the second half, former Buddie John Sutton coming on, but while they had plenty of possession they didn't do a great deal with it (sound familiar?) Dylan McGowan, Walker and Ngoo having the best of their chances.

Three points, two goals and a clean sheet. Not a bad evening's work. Now please do the same in the next three games - and then repeat it at Hampden...