Who needs a manager?
HEARTS 5
Naismith (6), Mcloughlin (og 30), Bozanic (43), Walker (46), Mulraney
ST MIRREN 2
Obika (21), Mullen (33)
As job interviews go, this one went very well indeed.
Austin Macphee’s first Premiership match of this spell in caretaker charge delivered the club’s first home win of the season.
Not just any victory either but a feel-good barnstormer to warm the cockles of the home fans on a cold winter afternoon.
And, if the two they conceded displayed a defensive frailty apparent in the Betfred Cup semi-final loss to Rangers last week, also under his stewardship, it only added to this most entertaining of matches. Macphee went with a fluid 4-3-3 system with Uche Ikpeazu deployed wide on the right and Aidy White hugging the touchline on the left.
It was a bold selection and one that paid a near-instant dividend in the form of an early opener.
Ikpeazu, playing in his unaccustomed role, darted down the wing and won a corner off Saints skipper Stephen Mcginn. The ball came out to Andrew Irving who swung in a cross that Steven Naismith smartly volleyed past Vaclav Hladky and into the net.
Macphee’s delight was clear. Little did he realise then what a rollercoaster afternoon it was to be, with four more goals scored before the interval.
First, the visitors hit back with a slick equaliser.
Paul Mcginn delivered the ball into the box, Tony Andreu headed it down to Jon Obika and the former England youth internationalist smashed a shot home.
Hearts went back in front with a bizarre own-goal. Naismith this time turned provider with a throw-in from the left which was flicked on Ikpeazu but found the back of the net via the head of Sean Mclaughlin.
The Edinburgh side were in selfdestructive mood, though. When Christophe Berra inexplicably allowed a long kick from Hladky to go over him, Danny Mullen darted into wide-open space behind to score with a cool finish into the corner.
Their mistake only served to spur Hearts on.
They retook the lead for the second time with a simple score. Michael Smith crossed in from the right, Ollie Bozanic rose high to meet it with his head and it was 3-2.
Then, for the first time in the game, they gave themselves a two-goal cushion when starting the second half the way they did the first.
Again, they had Smith to thank for the assist, the impressive defender picking