Match report: Saints 1-2 Hearts

Hearts took the lead on 23 minutes when Blair Spittal’s corner deflected off Nicky Clark to take it past the stranded Ross Sinclair and into the far corner of the net.

Clark rectified his mistake in the second half as he slotted home from the spot to level the match after Saints had been awarded a penalty courtesy of a VAR review for a foul on Kyle Cameron by Cammy Devlin.

However, Hearts sealed the points with 14 minutes remaining as substitute Kenneth Vargas rolled a low strike past substitute keeper Josh Rae after Beni Baningime had weaved his way through the Saints backline.  

Saints are back in action next Saturday when they make the trip to North Lanarkshire to take on Motherwell at Fir Park, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Hearts to McDiarmid Park this afternoon as they looked to bounce back from Wednesday night’s 3-1 defeat to St Mirren. There were two changes to the side which started in Paisley in midweek as Matt Smith dropped to the bench, whilst Lewis Neilson missed out as he couldn’t play against his parent club. They were replaced by Graham Carey and Barry Douglas, who was making his first start for Saints. Hearts lost 2-1 at home to Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening and head coach Neil Critchley made three changes to his starting eleven. Daniel Oyegoke, Beni Baningime and Yan Dhanda came in to replace Adam Forrester, Cammy Devlin and Kenneth Vargas who all dropped to the bench.

Blair Spittal got the match underway for Hearts and the visitors started on the front foot sending some dangerous crosses into the Saints box however, they were unable to test Ross Sinclair in the Saints goal.

On 11 minutes a good break by Saints saw Adama Sidibeh burst into the Hearts box before picking out Benji Kimpioka and the Swedish forward tried to pick out Nicky Clark with a neat backheel however, the Jambos were able to clear the danger. Then 3 minutes later patient build-up play by Saints saw Jason Holt’s cross from the left pick out Clark however, the Saints captain saw his effort go narrowly wide.

A poor clearance by Sinclair on 16 minutes saw the Saints keeper play the ball straight to Beni Baningime and the Congolese midfielder played a one-two with Spittal, before linking up with Lawrence Shankland who put his low effort wide of Sinclair’s left-hand post from 12 yards.

PHOTO: Jason Holt and Daniel Oyegoke

A foul on Graham Carey by Malachi Boateng 2 minutes later saw Saints awarded a free kick just outside the box. Clark took the free kick and he saw his effort from 20 yards pushed behind for a corner by Craig Gordon. Carey took the corner from the left and his delivery was met by Jack Sanders who headed the ball back across the box to Sven Sprangler, but his effort was blocked by Frankie Kent.

Saints created another chance on 21 minutes as Kimpioka burst forward before picking out Carey but he couldn’t find the target with his curling effort.

2 minutes later Hearts were awarded a corner after Alan Forrest saw his effort deflected behind by Carey. Spittal took the corner from the left and his curling delivery took a deflection off Clark at the near post to leave Sinclair punching thin air as the ball nestled in the far corner of the net to put Hearts a goal up.

Saints tried to get a quick response and on 25 minutes they were awarded a free kick out wide on the right after Sidibeh had been fouled by Kye Rowles. Carey’s free kick picked out Sidibeh in the box however, his header was comfortably gathered by Craig Gordon. The Gambian forward then got a great chance to level the match for Saints with 8 minutes of the first half remaining. Sidibeh was played in by Carey and the forward had the chance to go one-on-one with Gordon or pick out a teammate in the centre however, he elected to unleash an early low effort which went wide of the post.

PHOTO: Barry Douglas is closed down by Alan Forrest

Saints made a change at half time as Josh Rae came on to replace Ross Sinclair between the sticks.

Simo Valakari’s side made a good start to the second half as on 48 minutes Clark played in Holt who saw his strike blocked by Kent. The loose ball broke to Holt as the midfielder got a second chance however, this time his effort came back off the crossbar before the Jambos defence cleared their lines. Then 3 minutes later Carey picked out Drey Wright but he dragged his effort wide from just outside the box.

Saints were passing the ball about well and on 55 minutes Carey’s pinpoint cross was met by Sidibeh who directed his header towards goal however, Gordon made an excellent save to turn the ball behind for a corner. 2 minutes later Saints were awarded a free kick after Sidibeh was fouled by Rowles. It was taken by Carey and his delivery was met by Kyle Cameron who volleyed the ball into the side netting.

Another chance for Saints came on the hour mark however, this time Carey’s curling effort was straight into the arms of Gordon.

Then on 64 minutes there was a VAR check for a possible penalty for Saints after Cameron went down in the box under the challenge from Cammy Devlin following a Carey corner. Referee Chris Graham was called to view the incident on the monitor by VAR official Alan Muir and following the review Graham awarded the penalty to Saints. Clark stepped up to take the spot kick and he coolly sent Gordon the wrong way as he slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to level the match.

PHOTO: Nicky Clark celebrates his goal

Hearts got a sight of goal on 70 minutes as James Penrice lashed his effort over from 18 yards.

However, the Jambos regained their lead with 14 minutes remaining. Baningime went on a surging run past several Saints players to the edge of the box before playing in Kenneth Vargas and the substitute rolled the ball beyond Rae to restore Hearts advantage.

Saints then made a double change as Matt Smith and Makenzie Kirk came on to replace Nicky Clark and Adama Sidibeh.

Hearts came close to a third on 89 minutes but Rae made a great block to deny Vargas.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh is tackled by Beni Baningime

7 minutes was added on at the end as Saints pushed for an equaliser. The Perth side forced several corners in stoppage time, which saw Rae go up for, however, they couldn’t find an equaliser as Hearts saw the game out to leave Perth with the points.

Saints: Sinclair (Rae 45’), Cameron, Sanders, Holt, Clark (Smith 80’), Carey, Wright, Sidibeh (Kirk 80’), Sprangler, Kimpioka, Douglas

Unused Substitutes: Essel, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Keltjens, Bright, Franczak  

Booked: Sprangler, Holt

Scorer: Clark (68’ pen)

Hearts: Gordon, Kent, Oyegoke, Baningime, Shankland (Grant 85’), Rowles, Spittal, Forrest, Boating (Devlin 57’), Dhanda (Vargas 57’), Penrice

Unused Substitutes: Clark (GK), Kingsley, Halkett, McKay, Wilson, Forrester

Booked: Oyegoke, Rowles, Shankland, Devlin

Scorers: Clark (23’ og), Vargas (76’)

Referee: Chris Graham

VAR: Alan Muir   

Attendance: 5,917

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Benji Kimpioka is closed down by Beni Baningime and Frankie Kent