Scottish Cup: St Johnstone 1 - 2 Hearts: Hearts find bit extra to beat Saints
Jamie Hamill silences the McDiarmid Park crowd. Picture: SNS
THIS was dogged and defiant and most importantly it was a captain’s performance which proved good enough to get Hearts into the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
Having failed to settle matters at Tynecastle 10 days ago, betting men would have acknowledged the distinct possibility these two would be unable to take this tie to a conclusion without the aid of extra time and penalties. As the action played out it looked a safer and safer bet. Nullifying each other quite effectively for the biggest proportion of this encounter only the occasional goalmouth incident punctured play but not until the ding minutes did any offer a telling end product.
Hearts had settled their outstanding tax bill and were able to focus on the football, aware that, for once, it was another’s financial mismanagements which were under the microscope. But the respite would only be temporary if the chance at cup progress was denied the travelling support.
They have seen their side stutter slightly since the turn of the year, the tense cup win over Auchinleck Talbot and easier 5-2 league triumph over St Mirren a memory dulled by the subsequent four games without a win. For all that they remain in the battle for third place in the SPL and, thanks to Rangers 10-point deduction and ongoing problems, they will harbour hopes that even second place may be an outside possibility.
But in the quest for silverware rather than plaudits, they are desperate to edge closer and closer to Hampden. The last victory in the competition came in 2006 but since then, last night’s opponents had actually enjoyed more forays into the latter stages of the knockout competitions than the capital club.
St Johnstone were keen to continue that trend. Winners in the first two league head-to-heads the season, they were on the rebound from the weekend skelping they endured at the hands of Dundee United. Tannadice boss Peter Houston was gracious enough to say that the scoreline had flattered his men but 5-1 was still a big enough embarrassment to provoke some key changes to the starting line-up last night, with goalkeeper Peter Enckelman demoted to the bench. In his place, Alan Mannus, was a more commanding and confident figure as he stood firm against Hearts, although, like his opposite number he was hardly bombarded. Neither were completely idle, however, as the outfield men probed away.
The home side tested the hearts central defence in the opening minutes, with Fran Sandaza and Cillian Sheridan combining to exam the resolve of Andy Webster and Zaliukas and the latter almost gave them an in with just five minutes played. Sandaza sneaked in ahead of him as the Lithuanian looked for too much time in the box to gain control of the ball and clear but his centre-half partner got his body in the way as Sheridan sought to stab home from a few yards out.
Hearts drove upfield and, having won a corner, they almost capitalised on the home side’s inability to clear decisively. When the ball fell to Rudi Skacel he had a swing at it and Mannus had to get down to push it away from the target.
Hearts had made a couple of switches to their personnel but it was a settled backline and they did what a lot of other teams have failed to do this term, they gave the Saints’ front two little space in behind them to utilise their pace to clinical effect. While never electric, the match was evenly contested but eventually it was St Johnstone who found a breakthrough.
With both teams seeking to mix things up, Steve Lomas had thrown on Lee Croft, while Paulo Sergio had turned to David Templeton and Suso Santana and both gaffers will pat themselves son the back.
First to make an impact was Croft as he supplied the ball into Davidson and this time there was no bodies in the way to halt the ball as it found the net. At that point there were just seven minutes remaining and they must have thought that would be enough but then came Santana’s moment. Already well into time added on, the attacker forced Alan Maybury into a challenge in the box and he tumbled to the ground. The away support were convinced and so were the officials, with referee Brian Winter signalling a spot kick. There was a delay as yellow cards were waved about for the foul and then dissent but with the final kick of the match, Hamill struck it well, giving Mannus no chance
It heralded the extra 30 minutes where Hearts again defended deeply and defiantly as the ball bounced about in their box and S Johnstone tried to do the same but with three minutes of extra time left somehow Zaliukas won the latest instalment of pinball wizard and, having bundled it home, sent the fans into raptures.
St Johnstone: Mannus, Anderson (Oyenuga 108), McCracken, Wright, Maybury (Haber 93), Millar (Croft 70), Morris, Murray Davidson, Craig, Sandaza, Sheridan. Subs: Enckelman, Keatings. .
Hearts: MacDonald, Hamill, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger (McGowan 73), Taouil (Santana 81), Robinson, Mrowiec, Obua (Templeton 64), Elliott, Skacel. Subs not used: Ridgers, Smith.
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Comments
There are 49 comments to this article
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number withheld
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 09:14 PMTightfisted. Youre not very bright are you? Reread my post and then reread yours. Or at least get your carer to do it for you.
busbyfth
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 08:19 PM# 10 Hen.......Vlad won't pay tomorrow...He will on Friday or Monday - just out of devilment to rattle a few cages.
Please choose a name
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 06:10 PMSoftish penalty but no dive. Makes up for the stonewall one denied in the first game when the Saints player clearly handled the ball above his head. What goes around ... Great character show by the Boys in Maroon many of whom were out on their feet by the end. Bitter Hi-bees watch and weep!
Tightfisted
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 04:31 PM#39 REALITY WITH HELD get a grip pal........I appreciate that you're excited, what with not being the first to go into the swirling pit of administration SO FAR this year.........but calling your seleves a "BIG" club ...with a record that reads....200 attempts at the two major honours.............FAILURE RATE =97.5% That's what gives the game away pal..........REALITY....and a quick look at your (at it's kindest) very mediocre history as per the record books which dinna lie !!! wanna argue further wi; the stats then............or just up the methadone dosage.......the choice Moochacho...is yours,....Eh??
Portsmouth 657
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 03:34 PM29# Garry o Connor? Doh!
Baldrick
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 03:28 PM43* You can indeed. Hardly suprising. When they get their calculators out to add up trophy wins, including silly wee trophies, they never consider consistence of challenging for these trophies. Anyway, don't be suprised if Hibs pull off a nice wee win on Sunday. Be utterly astonished. Simply won't happen.
Portsmouth 657
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:48 AMYou can hear 37 greetin from here. Poor wee soul. hibs fans need to get a win or some fans instead of posting wind ups.
WBB
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:47 AM#30 Hurting are you? Sounds like it. Ah well I can understand it I suppose. 110 years and all that. Come on the Hearts.
De Vries Scores Four
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:38 AM#40 - Such a bad week for the hiberniacs. But you missed a couple of other points sir. Absolutely no doubt Celtic will pump them at the weekend and I can see the ever improving Dunfermine taking all the points at home to ICT. If this likely scenario occurs, Hibs will take their rightful place at the bottom of the league. Tick tock!
Weel Kent Jambo
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:23 AM#37 Yep - wages next up and it looks like they'll be settled on time too. Such a bad, bad week for Hibs trolls, eh? Didn't win a 'must win' game against the sheep, HMFC pay HMRC, we go through in the cup just when it looked like we were going out. Oh dear, how sad, what a shame, never mind. Well done the loys last night and especially Jamie Hamill - now that really was a pressure penalty kick if ever there was one - not just to keep us in the cup but for the difference that revenue might make to the whole future of the club.
number withheld
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:22 AMtightfisted. you are a weirdo. not big in realbarca terms - just 'bigger' in scottish terms. problem is 'bigger team, bigger cup, wee team wee cup' doesnt roll off the tongue as easily as big team big cup.
De Vries Scores Four
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:19 AM#37 - ha ha ma sides. You can hardly class your tincan cup 'successes' anywhere near the Scottish cup successes of Hearts. That's like me saying "I won at gokarkting" and comparing my success to Lewis Hamilton. The travelling support was decent last nigh considering it was valentines night and the weather was bitter. Pretty much half the crowd was Hearts fans. Hibs fans can not comment on fan attendance this season as you well know. Poor is being kind. Thanks for the laugh though, keep the one liners coming
First Green
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:02 AMThis is some cup run. 1v0 against a junior team because of a bad refereeing decision to prevent 1v1 and yesterday`s result after blatant diving from Suso. With refereeing like this maybe Hearts could win their third trophy in last 50 years (equalling us). Another small crowd last night that will hardly have paid police,bus and pre match meal. Next big match for Hearts -tomoròw`s monthly wages match.
Portsmouth 657
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:01 AMDont tell No 30 that hibs haven't won either the cup for 110 years or the league for 60 years. No words can describe how bad that is.
De Vries Scores Four
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:00 AM#28 - Dont know where to start Compadre. I was there last night and very little, if any hearts fans left before the final whistle as the game was very much alive. There was no luck involved, simply a hard earned victory which is something that I realise your team are not used to. I watched both the goals and enjoyed them with the rest of the travelling support which was pretty amazing considering the tempature and the fact that it was valentines day. Not far off 50% of the crowd there were Hearts fans. Take a look at your fans. Not so much the case that they leave early, more that they dont turn up at all. Still, cant blame them. Watching a 7 hour documentary on swedish architecture from the 1960s would be more enjoyable than 90 minutes at the empty breezeblock arena.
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