Scottish Cup: Hearts 1 - 1 St Johnstone: Feisty clash ends in stalemate

By BARRY ANDERSON
Published on Sunday 5 February 2012 17:00

THIS William Hill Scottish Cup tie went to a replay as St Johnstone produced an unlikely equaliser after being reduced to ten men, forcing the teams to meet again at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday week.

David Templeton’s low drive put Hearts in front early in the match but, after St Johnstone’s Dave Mackay was ordered off for a second yellow card, substitute Cillian Sheridan levelled the score on 78 minutes. The game was keenly contested throughout, which should ensure a fascinating rematch in Perth.

With Marian Kello missing through injury, Hearts started Jamie MacDonald in goal against a St Johnstone team that eliminated them from last season’s Scottish Cup. The Perth side had also won both previous league encounters between the clubs this season. MacDonald was in action early to save Murray Davidson’s drive from distance, but other than that he enjoyed a tranquil opening period.

Hearts’ patient build-up play produced a chance for Ryan McGowan in the ninth minute, but Peter Enckelman held his first-time effort from 20 yards. Moments later the Australian teed up the opening goal. He collected a pass from Marius Zaliukas wide on the left and delivered it inside to Templeton. The winger, given a surprising amount of time by the St Johnstone defence, turned and scampered forwards before sending a low drive into the corner of the net.

The balance of play was even throughout the first half, although Scott Robinson might have doubled Hearts’ advantage minutes before the interval. Templeton’s dribbling run on the left ended with a low delivery which the teenager mishit, allowing the ball to loop harmlessly into Enckelman’s arms.

St Johnstone began the second half in emphatic fashion when Francisco Sandaza headed Sheridan’s cross against MacDonald’s crossbar. Davidson then sent a first-time shot spinning high into the Roseburn Stand from Liam Craig’s cutback. It was clear that the visitors were playing with greater purpose as MacDonald repelled a vicious 35-yard volley from Craig.

Hearts resisted that concerted pressure and appealed for a penalty on 58 minutes when Mackay appeared to handle the ball whilst challenging McGowan in the air. Referee Craig Thomson remained impassive but did hand the hosts a significant advantage when he reduced St Johnstone to ten men 17 minutes from full-time. Mackay, having been booked for dissent on 61 minutes, was issued a second yellow card and subsequent red for high feet whilst challenging Templeton.

Perhaps the adversity galvanised St Johnstone, who equalised seconds later. Sandaza’s threaded through ball found Sheridan galloping in behind the Hearts defence. The striker ignored vociferous claims for offside from Hearts to eyeball MacDonald and stroke the ball beyond the goalkeeper.

As expected, Hearts pressed forward in numbers during the closing stages but could not find a winning goal. The teams will now do battle again on Valentine’s Day with no love lost during this encounter.

Hearts (4-2-3-1): MacDonald; Hamill, Webster, Zaliukas, McGowan; Robinson, Mrowiec; Skacel (Taouil 77), Black, Templeton (Driver 90); Elliott. Subs: Ridgers, Barr, Glen.

St Johnstone (4-4-1-1): Enckelman; Mackay, McCracken, Anderson, C Davidson; Croft (Keatings 84), M Davidson (Millar 78), Morris, Craig; Robertson (Sheridan 46); Sandaza. Subs: Mannus, Oyenuga.

Referee: Craig Thomson.

Attendance: 9185.

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72

jambo64

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 04:15 PM

I watched the game on the telly yesterday afternoon, hell, talk about a boring afternoon, hearts was pathetic, McGowan should have been replaced in the first half hour, he was PASH, sorry mate but you would have struggled kicking the bucket, as for the rest of the no hopers, why bother turning up in the first place, there was a complete lack of interest, where was no fight in the team what so ever, they were that bad, they lost in the warm up, god help us against celtic on wednesday I can see us getting belted 5 or 6 nil

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71

MrJaffa

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:59 PM

68It means that the players might not get paid this month

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70

Jimmy Galwe

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:31 PM

#69 Clone

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69

MrJaffa

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 07:34 AM

I've just about had it with romanov.He is making us a joke.He should let PS pick the team.He cant expect Kello to move countries just to suit him.Problems for paying players now.Im dreading what lies ahead.We get people on here ridiculing us and now this.I've had to my neck.No wonder people turn to basketball.

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68

Baldrick

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:45 AM

Does this mean we're going to have to pay Kello to do absolutely nothing? Plenty of precedent for that at Tynie.

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67

Mastermind

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:39 PM

Hearts 1 - St Johnstone 1

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66

Mastermind

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:39 PM

Hibs 1 - Kilmarnock 0

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65

Safe Harbour

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:37 PM

Comment removed by moderator

64

GEO123

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:08 PM

54. Congratulations, you've just won the prize for the most boring, predictable, empty-headed, inane drivel, mind-numbing, make you want to end it all nonsense post of the day, I assume that you are a Hibby, hope you don't get a nose bleed, you're getting into uncharted cup waters for your lot.

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63

Duncan D' Orderly

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:04 PM

Slovakian goalkeeperKello, who is out of contract at the end of the season, reportedly turned down a move to Austria Vienna on transfer deadline day last week, preferring to stay at Tynecastle. However, his decision appears to have upset Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov and director Sergejus Fedotovas, and although Kello warmed up with the team, it was Jamie MacDonald who played in goal. Sergio said: "There is an issue running between him (Kello) and our board, a political thing. It's not up to me to explain that. "I was told that because Marian is not committed with the future with Hearts, we should play the others. It's a tough situation. It's not a good thing for us." Sergio believes Kello - who was also made unavailable for selection last season under Jim Jefferies - will not be free to play against Celtic on Wednesday night in the SPL, unless the issue is resolved.

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62

Edwards Legend

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:53 PM

Replay on the 14th of Feb ? another stupid scheduling error, this gives every bloke with a Mrs a problem ! they wonder why attendances are poor when the football authorities schedule with no understanding of the outside world!

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61

Glorious Hearts

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:32 PM

Kello wasn't injured, he turned down a move to Austria and was left out.

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60

Baldrick

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 09:06 PM

This stuff about the crowd size is interesting. I don't think 9,000 for a televised game on a miserable day is too bad. Rangers having only 17,000 must be a real concern on top of all their other problems. St J is a club I really like however I am never confident when we play them. The record backs me up. Last time I can remember a replay there was when we beat Montrose about 100 years ago. Could be an omen.

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59

BigAlsbanana

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 08:50 PM

Utter rubbish today. Hearts are a long ball team and apart from Templeton doing something once or twice every 10 times he gets the ball, we spend the rest of the game giving the ball away. Long balls knocked into Elliott. Absolutely futile. Does it not occur to the players to try and keep the ball. Pass and move. That takes effort but, surely not as much as the amount wasted trying to get the ball back. How often did Black or Robinson drop back to get the ball off the defence??? It's shocking to watch and even though it was £10 a ticket, it was still poor value for money. I've got a feeling Sergio won't be sacked, he will walk. He knows he can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and unfortunately, he's managing Pinky and Perky and their family!!

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58

waspy100

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 08:29 PM

#54 We were 70% full you were 70% empty. Hope that doesn't fry your brain working it out :-))

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