Saints 2-1 Hearts

Saints took the lead 51 seconds into the match after Ali Crawford ended a good passing move as he curled a fine finish beyond Ross Stewart in the Hearts goal.

Hearts though fought back and were on level terms on 6 minutes as Nathaniel Atkinson slotted home a rebounded effort after Barrie McKay had hit the post.

Saints though wrapped up the three points on 56 minutes as Jamie McCart headed home a Melker Hallberg free kick.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Dingwall next Saturday to take on Ross County, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Hearts to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for a cinch Premiership match. Saints were unlucky to leave Pittodrie only with a point on Wednesday evening as they drew 1-1 with Aberdeen and Callum Davidson made four changes to his starting eleven for today’s match. Elliott Parish, Tom Sang, Tony Gallacher and Murray Davidson came in to replace the injured Zander Clark and Callum Booth whilst James Brown and Jacob Butterfield dropped to the bench. Hearts progressed to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup last weekend as they defeated Livingston 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw at Tynecastle Park. There were also four changes to the Hearts line-up as Robbie Neilson brought in Ross Stewart, Peter Haring, Nathaniel Atkinson and Josh Ginnelly to replace Craig Gordon, who missed out due to illness, and the injured Michael Smith whilst Beni Baningime and Andy Halliday both dropped to the bench.

Despite the heavy snowfall in Perth yesterday great work by the ground staff ensured that the match would go ahead today after it passed a 10am pitch inspection this morning. Saints were shooting towards the Ormand Stand for the first half as Murray Davidson got the match underway and Callum Davidson’s side would find themselves a goal up within 51 seconds of the match getting underway. A good passing move down the right saw Melker Hallberg play the ball into Ali Crawford who curled a beautiful strike beyond the fingertips of Ross Stewart and into the far corner of the net.  

PHOTO: Ali Crawford puts Saints 1-0 up after 51 seconds 

However, Hearts levelled the match on 6 minutes as Barrie McKay saw his curling strike hit the post and Nathaniel Atkinson reacted quickest to the loose ball to convert the rebound.  

On 10 minutes Peter Haring threaded a good ball forward playing in Ellis Simms but Liam Gordon made an excellent tackle to knock the ball behind for a corner. Stephen Kingsley took the corner from the left as his deep delivery into the Saints box was headed back across goal by Josh Ginnelly to Simms but the forward saw his strike hit the post.

Saints were causing problems for The Jambos at the back and on 21 minutes a headed clearance dropped nicely to Davidson on the edge of the box but the left-footed strike from the midfielder went inches wide of Stewart’s left-hand post. Then on 35 minutes Melker Hallberg had a go from distance but his 25-yard effort was straight at Stewart.

PHOTO: Melker Hallberg turns Peter Haring

Another good passing move by Saints 5 minutes later saw Callum Hendry slip the ball into the path of the advance Hallberg and the Swedish midfielder then setup Crawford whose curling effort was deflected behind for a corner by Atkinson. Crawford took the corner from the right and his delivery was met by Tony Gallacher, who had made a late run into the box, but his header went narrowly wide.

Into the second half and Saints created the first opening on 47 minutes as Hallberg had another go from distance however, his effort went narrowly wide of Stewart’s left-hand post.

Then up the other end 2 minutes later Ginnelly cut the ball back at the byline to Simms but the forward couldn’t direct his effort on target. The Jambos created another chance shortly after as McKay threaded a ball to Simms but his effort didn’t trouble Parish.

Lovely play by Hallberg on 55 minutes saw the midfielder beat his man out wide before playing the ball to the feet of the unmarked Crawford and the midfielder turned but sent his strike high into the North Stand.

Then a minute later Saints were awarded a free kick after Gallacher had been fouled by Atkinson. Hallberg took the free kick and he picked out an unmarked Jamie McCart in the box and the defender planted a beautiful header beyond Stewart to put Saints back in the lead.

PHOTO: Jamie McCart makes it 2-1 to Saints

That goal had Hearts rattled and just before the hour mark another Hallberg free kick picked out Davidson whose header was straight at Stewart however, play was pulled back as the Saints midfielder was deemed to have been in an offside position.

Hallberg was having a great game and shortly after he sent another dangerous corner in from the left which McCart got on the end of however, he couldn’t get his shot away but Davidson was able to latch onto the ball however, Stewart made a good save as he turned the ball behind for another corner.

Hearts though were still in it and on 64 minutes Parish made a great save to deny John Souttar as he turned the defenders bullet header from a Stephen Kingsley corner over for another corner.

The visitors then made a triple change as Ben Woodburn, Gary Mackay-Steven and Andy Halliday came on to replace Josh Ginnelly, Alex Cochrane and Cameron Devlin.

Saints made their first change of the game on 73 minutes as Charlie Gilmour came on to replace the impressive Melker Hallberg.

Then a minute later Mackay-Steven had a go from distance but it was a comfortable save for Parish.

With 12 minutes remaining Saints made a double change as Nadir Çiftçi and Jacob Butterfield came on to replace Callum Hendry and Ali Crawford. Çiftçi was quickly involved in the action as a minute later his backward header setup Glenn Middleton but he could direct his effort on target.

The visitors continued to push for the equaliser and on 85 minutes they were inches away from levelling it up as Souttar headed a Kingsley header goal wards which was blocked on the line and then Parish made a good save to deny Simms who had followed up with a rebound shot.  

A minute later brilliant play by Middleton saw him turn his man on the halfway line and he then raced forward and into the Hearts box but unfortunately dragged his effort wide. That would be Middleton’s last involvement in the match as he was then replaced by Theo Bair.

The final minutes of the match saw The Jambos continue to push as Parish made another good save to deny Simms and then deep into the 4 minutes of additional time Haring tried to thread a through ball to Mackay-Steven but he couldn’t make a clean connection with the ball as Parish comfortably gathered.

There was still time for one final chance for the Gorgie side as they were awarded a free kick in a promising position after McKay had been fouled by Davidson. Kingsley took the free kick but his strike rebounded off the Saints wall as Saints held out to secure a huge three points.

PHOTO: The Saints players celebrate as referee Grant Irvine blows for full time

Saints: Parish, Sang, Cleary, McCart, Gordon, Gallacher, Davidson, Hallberg (Gilmour 74), Crawford (Butterfield 78), Hendry (Çiftçi 78), Middleton (Bair 87)

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Mahon, Brown, O’Halloran, May   

Booked: Hendry, Butterfield

Scorers: Crawford (1), McCart (56)

Hearts: Stewart, Sibbick, Souttar, Kingsley, Cochrane (Mackay-Steven 65), Haring, Simms, Atkinson, McKay, Ginnelly (Woodburn 65), Devlin (Halliday 65)

Unused Substitutes: McFarlane (GK), Baningime, McEneff, Moore, Pollock  

Booked: None

Scorer: Atkinson (6)  

Referee: Grant Irvine

Attendance: 4,409

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Jamie McCart celebrates his goal