Struna saves blushes in Gorgie
IN THE week it was announced that the name of Hearts’ famous stadium would revert to Tynecastle Park next season, their supporters must be hoping that at some point their team will revert to resembling one of the top football sides in the country.
But for all of their failings, from their jaw-dropping profligacy in attack to their obvious deficiencies in defence, it is Partick Thistle who emerge from this contest with the credit along with a hard-earned point.
“There is a feeling of disappointment, frustration, maybe a tiny
wee bit of shock,” said disbelieving Hearts manager Ian Cathro.
“I felt we did more than enough, we created more than enough chances to win the game.
“You always make it more difficult for yourself when you need to score three because of some errors in our defensive work. But I think that’s a game that the majority of times we play, we win.”
A drab first-half gave way to a pulsating second as Kris Doolan put the visitors in front before Hearts hit back from the penalty spot through the otherwise wasteful Isma Goncalves. Thistle’s Danny Devine was given a second yellow for the handball that led to the spot-kick, but Alan Archibald’s men showed their mettle to go ahead again straight away through Stevie Lawless.
Hearts’ blushes were spared though as Andraz Struna popped up at the death to fire high into the net, but the European dream looks a long shot now for the home side as they trail St Johnstone by six points.
Hearts had started impressively enough with Goncalves spurning a couple of decent opportunities, a theme which would develop throughout the match.
Thistle grew into it though, with young Andrew McCarthy impressing in midfield, before Hearts woke up just before the break as Struna latched onto Goncalves’s blocked shot to crack a stunning effort off the underside of the bar.
The second half started with a bang too, and it was the visitors who broke the deadlock five minutes in as Lawless spun his man on the right before floating a lovely ball to the back post, where Doolan was waiting to head home his 14th of the campaign.
That sparked a response from Hearts, as Don Cowie’s cross found Goncalves in acres of space in the centre of the area, but the striker displayed the proverbial head like a 50p piece as he nodded high and wide.
The visitors should have doubled their lead on the break, as a fine ball from Doolan released Erskine in acres of space in the area, but Hamilton did well to get a vital touch on the ball to send it wide.
Then came the moment that should have buried Thistle. A poor clearance from Cerny allowed Cowie to advance towards the Thistle area before getting a shot away that Devine threw himself at to block.
Referee Andrew Dallas adjudged the ball to come off the defender’s hand, pointing to the spot before producing a second yellow card for the defender.
“I wasn’t surprised by that decision given a few that came before it,” said aggrieved Thistle boss Archibald. “You will see another 10 of those incidents next season, and they will be called differently.”