Hearts 3 St Mirren 0

Mark Guidi

THE home side gained revenge for their Hampden mauling as the Danny Lennon's side once again failed to secure the point they need to secure their SPL status.

DANNY LENNON remains convinced St Mirren will beat the drop – and insists he doesn’t want any favours from Aberdeen at Dundee this afternoon.

Saints only needed a point to secure their SPL status yesterday but Hearts swept them aside thanks to goals from Jamie Walker, Kevin McHattie and a Jamie Hamill penalty.

Kenny McLean was also flashed a straight red card for the Paisley outfit but gaffer Lennon refused to get too down after the match and backed his Buddies to secure a victory against Aberdeen next week.

The Dons could settle the relegation issue by denying Dee a win at Dens Park today but Lennon hopes his side secure safety under their own steam.

He said: “A couple of things went against us but there’s no doubt Hearts were the better side in the first half.

“We changed a few things at the interval and created some good opportunities.

“From where I was standing it looked as though Kenny McLean took the ball, so it looks like a poor decision.

“We really need to start games better and we want to do this ourselves, no doubt about that.

“We want to take control of this situation and we can’t have any influence on what goes on elsewhere.

“We want to take the full six points we have left to play for. I have no doubt we’ll stay up.”

With plenty at stake for different reasons, the game started at a ferocious pace and never let up.

Gary Locke’s side took the early initiative and put pressure on their opponents with John Sutton and Jason Holt going close with early efforts.

It was no surprise to see them hit the front in 14 minutes.

Jamie Hamill slams home from the penalty spot
Eric McCowat Photography

The excellent Walker robbed Esmael Goncalves of possession just inside the Saints half and the visitors stood off him as he made his way goalwards.

The kid kept his cool and crashed a brilliant effort from 20 yards beyond Craig Samson and in off the underside of the bar for a brilliant opener.

Hearts should have had a penalty minutes later when Paul Dummett clearly handled but referee Brian Colvin waved play on.

Dale Carrick and Walker also threatened Samson’s goal as the home side kept the heat on Saints.

The crucial second goal duly arrived two minutes before the break.

Saints’ Marc McAusland was penalised for a challenge on Carrick 26 yards from goal and McHattie fired in a left foot free-kick that went through the wall and under the right arm of keeper Samson.

It was a comfortable half for Locke’s side, with the only real threat on their goal coming when Lee Mair blasted over the bar from six yards out with the score still at 0-0.

Saints set about the second half with a bit more purpose and Jambos No.1 Jamie MacDonald was finally called into action.

He proved up to the task though with two super stops in the space of a few minutes. The first saw him deny Newcastle loan star Conor Newton from close range and he then stopped a Sam Parkin header from six yards with a brilliant save.

Saints cursed those misses in 53 minutes when Hearts scored their third to clinch the points.

Ryan Stevenson played in McHattie and he was barged off the ball by McLean just as the defender was about to pull the trigger. Ref Colvin didn’t hesitate in showing the red card.

Hamill stepped up from 12 yards and calmly knocked the ball into the corner of Samson’s goal with his right foot.

Impressive left-back McHattie insisted it was the correct call from the whistler.

He said: “I was shielding the ball and he came through the back of me. It was a penalty. It rounded off a great day for me after my goal. To score in front of the home fans is brilliant.”

It just wasn’t St Mirren’s day and after 61 minutes gaffer Lennon watched in agony as Gary Teale’s chip was headed off the line by Darren Barr.

Hamill then popped up on the line to clear the ball away and stop Parkin from nodding home for the visitors.

It proved an agonising trip to the capital for the travelling Buddies fans who were part of a healthy crowd of 16,312.

Hearts were able to relax in the dying minutes and played some excellent stuff, with star man Walker having an effort saved by Samson as the Jambos chased a fourth.

Taken from the Daily Record