Clydesdale Bank SPL, Saturday 16 January 2010 - Tynecastle
After last week's debacle at Aberdeen, I wasn't wholly confident Hearts would bounce back today. However, they did and this hard-earned victory over St. Mirren was Hearts sixth game unbeaten in the SPL.
The appearance of Jason Young, David Templeton and, ahem, Christian Nade did much to galvanise Hearts today. Honestly! I thought Nade played as well as he has done in a maroon shirt, although admittedly that's not difficult to beat. Young Scott Robinson also played well but the lack of goals is an on-going concern that won't go away until Hearts sign a new striker or two. They have now been linked with former Jambo Lee Miller, now at Aberdeen - but even if he were to return to Tynecastle it won't be until next season.
Michael Stewart's first half penalty was enough for all three points today. Hearts did show an improved work-rate and there are some bright young players making the breakthrough. St. Mirren seem to suffer from a similar affliction to Hearts - it just all falls to pieces in the final third of the field. The frustration that goes with this was perhaps behind Andy Dorman's piece of unsporting behaviour this afternoon - after Hearts put the ball out of play so an injured St. Mirren player could receive treatment, Dorman thought it smart not to give the ball back from the re-start. Which didn't endear the Buddies to some of the home support who still haven't forgotten St. Mirren's role in the last day of season 1985-86 when they lost 5-0 to Celtic thereby enabling The Hoops to win the league on goal difference - from Hearts...
Hearts have now consolidated fifth place in the SPL and are six points behind fourth placed Hibernian. Hearts and St. Mirren meet again in a couple of weeks in the semi-final of the Co-op Insurance Cup at Fir Park. Expect another tight game.
"....the home support who still haven't forgotten St. Mirren's role in the last day of season 1985-86 when they lost 5-0 to Celtic thereby enabling The Hoops to win the league on goal difference - from Hearts..."
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing to indicate the ex-Celtic players in that St Mirren team did not try.
Apart from them celebrating with their mates at the end of course.
An experienced striker alongside Nade would have been good today. But Nade is playing for a transfer, a swop maybe?