It’s the Jekyll and Hyde show
WITH FOOTBALL IN COLD STORAGE WE TAKE A LOOK AT OLD ST
Paul Behan
Saints passed up a great chance to collect their second consecutive SPFL Premiership win on the trot with a Jekyll and Hyde performance yesterday against Hearts.
Steven Thompson prodded Saints in front after only three minutes but Jamie Hamill levelled it up with a thunderbolt early in the second 45.
And from there on in Danny Lennon’s side looked a pale imitation of the side that strutted their stuff with such confidence in the first half.
Paul McGowan won an early corner on the right and it eventually led to the opening goal.
Grainger swung it in but neither Thompson or Darren McGregor could get a touch.
Possession went back to Grainger for a second bite of the cherry, and this time his cross was headed on by Jim Goodwin.
Hearts were all at sea defensively and somehow, through a ruck of players, Thompson was there to stick out his right leg and poke home the opener from 10 yards.
There was a strong penalty claim in the eighth minute when McGowan flicked the ball up in the penalty box from Jason Naismith’s cross and it struck the hand of Danny Wilson – but the main stand linesman kept his flag down.
The home pressure continued and Naismith stung the fingers of goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald with a powerful angled effort after taking a Thompson pass.
Grainger saw an awkward effort with his left foot hoofed clear by the Hearts defence after he picked up a Conor Newton cross, before Naismith headed over a McGowan cross from the left.
Jamie Walker fired over for the visitors after he embarked on a rampaging run forward in a good counter from the Edinburgh side.
At the midway point Walker’s trickery won the Jambos a free-kick in a good position.
It was played short to Walker by Hamill, but the midfielder arrowed it high and wide of the right-hand post.
Sean Kelly fired an effort over the crossbar from 16 yards after Naismith’s cross flew across the dangerzone, then Thompson saw a header cleared off the line by Kevin McHattie.
After 35 minutes Walker won Hearts a free-kick 30 yards out in a good shooting position at the expense of Grainger.
It was touched to Ryan Stevenson by Scott Robinson but the former Ayr United midfielder struck the Saints wall.
At the other end Newton blazed an angled effort over target as the chances continued to come.
Star Saint:
Steven
Thompson
The big striker gets the nomination not just for his goal but for his overall work rate.
Match Facts
Score St Mirren 1 Hearts 1
Scorers Thompson (3), Hamill (48)
Bookings Paterson (22), Tapping (34), Robinson (56), D McGowan (65), Stevenson (75)
Red Carded No-one
Referee Kevin Clancy
Attendance 4,573
Teams: St Mirren (4-1-3-1-1): Kello, Naismith, McAusland (van Zanten 46), Newton, Kelly, Goodwin, McGregor, McGinn, Thompson, McGowan (Harkins 81), Grainger. Subs not used: Dilo, Reilly, Cuddihy, Brady, Mair. Hearts (4-2-3-1): MacDonald, Hamill, McHattie, Wilson, D McGowan, Stevenson, Robinson (Smith 79), Paterson, Walker, McKay, Tapping. Subs not used: Hamilton, Carrick, B King, A King, Nicholson, McGhee.
David van Zanten replaced Marc McAusland for the start of the second 45 as Saints sought to extend their slender lead.
But it was Hearts who drew level thanks to a powerful drive from Hamill.
Walker saw a cross deflected towards goal by van Zanten, then only partially cleared.
Hamill picked up the scraps 25 yards out and unleashed a powerful shot which rocketed into the right-hand corner of
the net to make it 1-1.
Thompson sliced a shot agonisingly wide after Brad McKay looked to have handled a Goodwin shot in the box.
Walker passed up the chance to take the lead for Hearts, sending a low shot wide of Marian Kello’s right-hand post from 20 yards.
Newton saw an effort saved by MacDonald as Saints chased a winner, but their first half zest had deserted them and Hearts deserved their point.