The Scotsman

‘Hard work and belief ’ were the key says Hearts saviour Clare

● Saints deflated following late equaliser after seizing initiative in second half

- By MOIRA GORDON

STJOHNSTON­E

May 17, 62pen, Mccann 52

HEARTS

Boyce 26, Naismith 31, Clare 90

At half-time St Johnstone might have taken a draw but by the time the full-time whistle sounded, there was no consolatio­n in that fact.

Having controlled the opening45m­inutes,heartsneed­ed a late Sean Clare goal to claim even a share of the points after the home side had swung the balance of power, leaving Tommy Wright’s men feeling hard done by.

That late strike was enough to lift the Gorgie side off the foot of the table, though, and when both managers take the time to fully assess a captivatin­g and action-packed match, there will be positives to offset the negatives.

For Daniel Stendel, the encouragem­ent comes from the first-half showing. He can also take confidence from the character of his men, who, having barely flinched when losing an early goal, hit back and took command. They then somehow gathered themselves after they relinquish­ed that superiorit­y after the break and kept themselves in the game long enough to allow Clare to perform his salvage operation and drill his equaliser past Zander Clark with time fast running out.

It speaks to the newly-rediscover­ed battling qualities and a growing self-belief and illustrate­s the importance of certain players who have returned from injury and the impact of others who have been added to the ranks since Stendel’s arrival.

It was the fit-again talisman Steven Naismith and January recruit Liam Boyce who grabbed the two goals needed to overhaul Stevie May’s 16th-minute opener for St Johnstone.

The Hearts goals came as a quick wham-bam, the Northern Irishman sending the first into the net in the 26th minute and the club captain doubling the tally four minutes later, popping up on the goalline to provide headed confirmati­on of John Souttar’s hooked overhead attempt at goal.

Confident in midfield where Andy Irving and Toby Sibbick were a handful, finding ways to link with the forwards and play through and around the Perth backline, the young duo also offered invaluable cover for the travelling defence.

But as the second half started, their opponents took back some of the impetus and started rushing them. They picked out the space more effectivel­y and turned defence into attack at greater pace. That stretched Hearts and, as men such as Sibbick, who had not previously been playing regularly, began to tire, St Johnstone had their guests rattled.

They came back at them with an Ali Mccann drive in the 52nd minute and then, ten minutes later, Craig Halkett was punished for manhandlin­g Jason Kerr at a set piece and May slotted away the penalty.

The home side then tried to put the result beyond doubt and came close on several occasions, with efforts by May, Mccann, Chris Kane, Anthony Ralston and David Wotherspoo­n as Liam Craig pulled the strings in the middle of the park.

But they couldn’t get past the visiting side for a fourth time, providing the opportunit­y for Clare to gallop up the park from his right-back berth late in proceeding­s and, following a disputed throw-in in the build-up that left St Johnstone gaffer Tommy Wright harbouring a seething sense of injustice, hammer home a low screamer from the edge of the box.

The fact that the forwardtur­ned full-back was the man to pop up at that key moment demonstrat­es just how much he has come on under new boss Stendel and reflects the more general upturn in confidence in a side that is still immersed in the relegation battle but is now showing signs that it has the will and a way to escape the doldrums.

“It’s an accumulati­on of hard work and a bit of belief,” said

Clare, who has won over disgruntle­d fans with his performanc­es in recent weeks.

“He [The manager] instilled a bit more belief in me and more confidence.

“The hard work has been going on since I came to the club. Sometimes people haven’t seen it and didn’t believe it was happening but I can assure you on the pitch and off it we’ve all been working hard.

“Just because the results haven’t been going our way it’s not looked great. But this style of play is right up my street.

“We are more organised in possession. Maybe out of possession we weren’t great today. But the first half we were excellent.

“There’s definitely an element of risk but the more we practise it the more secure we will be at the back. The way we play will allow us to score more goals and as we keep working on it the more secure we will be at the back.”

“On the pitch and off it we’ve all been working hard. Just because the results haven’t been going our way it’s not looked great. But this style of play is right up my street”

SEAN CLARE

 ??  ?? 0 Sean Clare rifles home Hearts’ equaliser in added time to rescue a point against St Johnstone at Mcdiarmid Park on Saturday.
0 Sean Clare rifles home Hearts’ equaliser in added time to rescue a point against St Johnstone at Mcdiarmid Park on Saturday.
 ??  ?? 0 Stevie May found the net twice for St Johnstone.
0 Stevie May found the net twice for St Johnstone.
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