Hearts 2-2 Hamilton: Jambos snatch late draw against 10-man Accies as fans boo team off at full time

Storm Dennis raged around Tynecastle for the entirety of this relegation tussle and for 82 minutes, Hearts looked liked finding themselves submerged in a devastating flood of turmoil.
Craig Halkett rescued a point for Hearts at the deathCraig Halkett rescued a point for Hearts at the death
Craig Halkett rescued a point for Hearts at the death

Daniel Stendel’s side were staring at being cut four points adrift of Hamilton at the Premiership basement until Craig Halkett rescued a share of the spoils with a header three minutes from time.

The picture was looking bleak for the hosts some 16 minutes in after Marios Ogkmpoe stunned a partisan crowd inside the stadium with a two-goal salvo.

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At that point Hearts were in disarray, the players apparently overawed by the significance of the clash and unnerved by the inevitable unrest among their supporters.

The visitors were deservedly on course to collect their first victory in Gorgie in 43 years.

That was until the game’s turning point, Accies defender Jamie Hamilton being red carded after 21 minutes for handball.

The convoy of buses Accies parked on their six-yard line refused to budge until three minutes after the restart when Jamie Walker pulled one back.

Halkett then levelled but Hearts ran out of time to grab another, with the disgruntled home fans making their feelings clear at full-time.

The announcement of the Hearts team pre-match should have soothed any nerves felt among the supporters making their way to the game.

Sean Clare and Michael Smith were both deemed fit despite suffering from niggling hamstring and groin complaints, while Aaron Hickey made his first appearance since last month's 5-0 Scottish Cup thrashing of Airdrie

And on the back of growing concerns over Joel Pereira, the on loan Manchester United goalkeeper made way for Zdenek Zlamal.

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Following his side’s 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen in midweek, Hamilton manager Brian Rice made four changes to his line-up, which included bringing in the aforementioned Hamilton after Brian Easton dislocated his shoulder against the Dons

It is a sobering indictment of the mess Hearts find themselves in that the stakes were elevated for a fixture usually regarded as run of the mill, Hamilton being their direct rivals in the battle to avoid the drop.

Accies arrived in Gorgie as veterans of these kinds of battles, having not finished above tenth in the top-flight for each of the last four seasons.

That was not lost on Stendel, who said in his programme notes: “Hamilton have experience of fighting to stay up and this makes them dangerous.”

The Hearts fans responded to the stadium announcer’s battle cry of ‘you’re team needs you’ and those rousing words were even more pertinent after five minutes when the visitors took the lead.

Stendel’s biggest quandary since taking on the reins in December has been trying to find the right balance between his trademark high press and defending.

And again it was the Hearts rearguard that was caught out. Ogkmpoe had already tested Zlamal with a low drive from an angle before he found the net.

Scott Martin beat the offside trap on the left flank and knocked a pass into the area for the forward to calmly slot past Zlamal from 12 yards.

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The ensuing minutes were a snap shot of Hearts’ abysmal season. Tensions rose in the three stands housing those clad in maroon, the players retreated into their shells and ultimately, the visitors drew encouragement from the the Tynecastle’s side palpable vulnerability.

This was illustrated when Ogkmpoe made it two-nil from the penalty spot in the 16th minute.

John Souttar did not want a pass from Zdenek with his back to the action and was immediately dispossessed inside his own box.

Team-mate Clare tried to help out but only made matters worse when he hacked down Ogkmpoe inside the box.

The Greek picked himself and sent Czech shot-stopper the wrong way from the spot.

A lifeline arrived just five minutes later when teenage centre half Hamilton was shown a straight red card by Kevin Clancy.

The decision seemed harsh, the 17-year-old handling the ball outside the box in his attempt to direct Halkett’s long ball back to his goalkeeper.

Near side assistant referee Frank Connor raised his flag and Clancy took action.

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The free-kick come to nothing, Andy Irving cracking his effort over.

With a two-goal lead to protect, Accies decided to camp in.

Chances came Hearts’ way. Uche Ikpeazu had a header saved by Luke Southwood before Jamie Walker was twice denied by the goalkeeper in quick succession.

Steven Naismith then headed just wide before the break but then turned provider as Walker broke Accies’ resistance three minutes after the restart.

The playmaker raced onto a through pass before poking the ball beyond Southwood.

Hearts had their tails up but wasted a series of chances. Naismith was foiled by the keeper at the back post before Walker shot just wide from inside the area.

It was one-way traffic and Halkett finally made the incessant pressure count in the 87th minute when he headed in Conor Washington’s cross.

The big games keep coming. Hearts will now attempt to drag St Mirren deeper into the relegation mire in next Friday’s televised clash in Paisley.