SPFL,
Saturday 5 April 2014 – Firhill
Hearts SPFL life support
machine, which had been threatened to be turned off by Hibernian and Aberdeen
in the last six days, finally had its plug pulled in Glasgow despite Hearts
producing, ironically, one of their best performances of the season to defeat
Partick Thistle at Firhill.
The Maroons were faced with
a scenario where they had to win each and every one of their remaining six SPFL
Premiership games while hoping St. Mirren would lose all of theirs. There was
as much chance of that happening as Leigh Griffiths signing for Hearts in the
summer and so Hearts were mercifully relieved of their duties and will play
their football next season outside the top flight of Scottish football for the
first time since 1983. Whether that will be in the Championship or League Two
may well be decided next week after yet another meeting of creditors in
Lithuania. The earnest hope is a deal will be struck for the shares of the club
meaning Ann Budge can take control and the Foundation of Hearts can lead the
way forward – and crucially see Hearts only dropping down one division next
season.
Yet again there was a
sizeable support from Edinburgh whose devotion to their team this season has
been nothing short of remarkable. Those who travelled to Glasgow were ‘rewarded’
by seeing their team go a goal down after just five minutes. A long ball
forward reached Doolan who fired past Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald to put the
hosts a goal up and invoke the predictable ‘Hearts are going down’ chant from
the home support.
Hearts, with Brad McKay,
Dale Carrick, Scott Robinson and Billy King replacing Danny Wilson – who was
suspended following his red card against Aberdeen on Wednesday – Paul McCallum,
David Smith and Sam Nicholson, fought back but nearly went two goals down when
Taylor fired over the bar from 18 yards. Doolan then had a chance for his
second goal after fine build up play but his effort was saved well by Jamie
Mac.
Hearts then almost grabbed
the equaliser when Scott Robinson got on the end of a Kevin McHattie corner
only for Thistle keeper Gallacher to produce a superb save. Billy King then had
an opportunity to level the scores when he latched on to Dale Carrick’s through
pass but the youngster fired his shot wide and it began to look as if it would
be one of those days. However, the Maroons would not be denied and three
minutes before half-time, King turned provider when he crossed for Carrick to
head home the equaliser. 1-1 at the interval.
While it took Thistle just
five minutes to score in the first half, it took the Jambos just four minutes
of the second period to go in front. Billy King collected the ball 25 yards
from goal and unleashed a superb shot which flew past Gallacher and into the
net to put the visitors in front. 12 minutes later, Scott Robinson’s corner
found the head of Ryan Stevenson whose header found the corner of the net to put
Hearts 3-1 ahead with less than half an hour to go.
Hearts were rampant now –
something that hasn’t been said too often this season – and six minutes later
they scored a fourth goal. The hard-working Robinson raced down the right wing
before crossing to Stevenson. ‘Stevo’ turned and fired in a brilliant shot
which was beyond Gallacher and, astonishingly, it was now 4-1 to Hearts.
With the news that St.
Mirren were losing at home to Motherwell, it seemed Gary Locke’s side were about
to survive for another day, even when McMillan pulled a goal back for Thistle
with two minutes to go. However, any thoughts of the ‘Great Escape’ faded with
the news that St. Mirren had equalised against Motherwell – then disappeared
entirely when news filtered through that the Paisley Saints had scored twice in
two minutes to win the game. Hearts relegation, therefore, was confirmed despite
a superb second half performance in Glasgow – and a result which puts Partick
Thistle in the dreaded play-off place.
Defiant Hearts supporters
chanted ‘we’ll support you ever more’ as the emotional Hearts players left the
field at the end of the game. With performances like this, surely it will be
only a matter of time before Hearts are back in the big time.
Partick
Thistle:
Gallacher, McMillan, Taylor-Sinclair, Bannigan, Gabriel, Mair, Higginbotham,
Fraser, Taylor, Doolan, Erskine.
Hearts: MacDonald; Paterson, McGowan,
McKay, McHattie; Robinson, Hamill, Holt; Stevenson, Carrick, King.
Referee: Stephen Finnie
Att: 4,262
Top man: Billy King
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