The Jambos were held to a 2-2 draw in Pailsey with Celtic cutting their lead at the Premiership summit to six points
(Image: SNS Group)
Claudio Braga salvaged a precious point for Hearts after the league leaders were pushed to the limit by St Mirren.
The Portuguese attacker nabbed his side’s second equaliser of the evening just moments after it looked as though their unbeaten Premiership start would be crushed.
Saints led through Dan Nlundulu’s spectacular effort only for Lawrence Shankland to find a first leveller prior to the break.
Miguel Freckleton restored the lead for Stephen Robinson’s boys after the interval and, when he cracked home again just moments later, it looked as if Saints had surged two goals clear and were ready to shatter the unbeaten run for Derek McInnes’ men.
However, the effort which would have made it 3-1 was ruled out after a VAR intervention and, lifted by the lifeline, Braga nodded home to haul Hearts to parity for a second time.
It was a gruelling night for the title pacesetters who were given a stern examination.
Despite three straight losses going into the game, Robinson’s men were a huge threat and could have won it, yet could also have lost it and appeared to have done so with three minutes remaining as sub Pierre Landry Kabore shot home.
Yet, once again, VAR had a look at ruled it out for offside. That denied Hearts and, while their lead at the top was trimmed to six points, it was also a hard-fought point with the chance to re-extend the lead against Dundee on Saturday.
Saints face a Hampden semi-final on Saturday against Motherwell and will take big confidence from this performance, if not the win.
Their fans unveiled a Dracula tifo prior to the match and the hosts tried to put the frighteners on the league leaders.
Beni Baningime hit a post. McInnes held head in hands and was aghast again just before the half hour mark when Saints took the lead.
Shankland was fuming to be penalised after a joust with Marcus Fraser and that mood darkened when keeper Shamal George launched the award forward from his own half.
Hearts’ backline didn’t deal with it and Nlundula produced an outstanding overhead kick which sailed over Alexander Schwolow.
McInnes’ men recovered quickly and were level almost immediately after a dismal home mistake. Freckleton’s clearing header was not controlled by Keane Baccus which presented Shankland with the type of opportunity which he doesn’t waste.
The Hearts captain hit a post from a tight angle after the restart before Saints restored their advantage.
Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland celebrates scoring to make it 1-0 vs St Mirren(Image: SNS Group)
Stephen Kingsley and Stuart Findlay were both unable to get decisive clearing headers and, when the latter’s dropped to the feet of Freckleton, he produced a sharp drive low into the net.
The same player then through he’d made it 3-1 on the hour mark from another dead ball. Declan John’s delivery of a free-kick found the defender who glanced a header against a post. The ball rebounded back into his path and he slammed into the net for a second time.
However, after a VAR check for offside, referee Matthew MacDermid ruled the effort out for offside. Saints remained charged and Schwolow saved another Phillips header.
But that proved a crucial stop as Braga nodded a second Hearts equaliser with 20 minutes to go after Alexandros Kyziridis hit the bar. Kabore then thought he’d won it in the closing stages, but another VAR moment and it finished level.
ATTACKING HEARTS BEATING
Shankland, Braga and Kyziridis took their season tally to 23. The movement of the trio has been a feature of Hearts’ play this term and they were a real menace. Opponents don’t need to be lending a helping hand and that is what Saints did to present the skipper with his equaliser. Braga was alert to finish after Kyziridis’ deflected shot cannoned against the bar.
DAN CAN BE A MAN
Robinson was delighted to land the 26-year-old at the close of the transfer window and the hitman is starting to make his impact. Nlundulu made it two in two games with a terrific chest touch and ambitious finish to open the scoring. There is good physicality about the Englishman and the goal was a measure of excellent technique.
HEARTS LACKING NORMAL SECURITY
The Hearts defence has won huge praise this term for their work and had lost just one goal in five matches prior to Paisley. However, there was not the typical conviction with Saints causing big problems at set plays. McInnes’ defence didn’t deal with the long punt for Nlundulu’s opener and missed chances to clear as Freckleton’s scored the hosts’ second. There were other set-pieces that caused an issue. Solidity has been a huge part of the good Hearts work so far, but this was not one of their best nights.
SAINTS GET A SEMI LIFT
Robinson’s team took a run of three straight losses into the contest and it was never going to be easy to arrest the slide. The manager was joined in the stand due to suspension by the influential Jayden Richardson and Alex Gogic, who will both return for the National Stadium. Saints didn’t win, but this was a big performance and a hefty lift. There was much to like about the showing. The chalked-off Freckleton effort was a huge moment.
VAR MYSTERY FOR SUPPORTERS
When Freckleton cracked the ball into the net for a second time, Saints celebrated what they felt was a third goal. If there was an issue which needed attention from the VAR and referee Matthew MacDermind, that is absolutely fair enough. But, once again, it’s a huge moment in the match and yet not one person who had paid to get into the stadium really had an idea of what was being looked at. That just doesn’t seem right.
