St. Mirren 2 Heart of Midlothian 0
Ladbrokes Premiership, Saturday 24th November 2018 – Simple Digital Arena
Hearts sparkling start to season 2018/19 is fast becoming a distant memory. Craig Levein’s side lost 2-0 to St Mirren on Saturday, a team who haven’t won a league game since August. Alarmingly for the Maroons, they haven’t scored a goal in five weeks. Striker Steven Naismith limped off against Celtic in the Betfred Cup semi-final four weeks ago and Hearts have not even looked like scoring since.
St. Mirren scored two second half goals through Adam Hamill and deserved their victory. His first goal was an incredible effort when he hit a high ball from just inside the Hearts half which sailed over Gorgie keeper Bobby Zlamal and into the net. He scored his second goal shortly after.
In truth, there isn’t much to say about Hearts performance other than it was abysmal. The feel-good factor which enveloped Gorgie just a few weeks ago has now disappeared.
Hearts have now slipped to third place in the Ladbrokes Premiership table and one feels this will only get worse before it gets better.
In other news, Hearts have been given a home draw in the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup. They will face fellow Premiership rivals Livingston at Tynecastle. The two teams fought out a goalless draw in the league at Tynecastle earlier this season.
Hibernian are also at home – against League Two side Elgin City, while should Edinburgh City pull off a cup shock in their third round tie against Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Ainslie Park tomorrow, they will face Lowland League side East Kilbride – also at home. Ties are scheduled for the weekend of 19th/20th January 2019.
St Mirren: Rogers, P. McGinn, S. McGinn, Magennis, Jackson (Mullen, 83′), Baird, McShane, Jones, Hodson, Erhahon, Hamill (Smith, 70′).
Hearts: Zlamal, Smith, Dunne, Haring, Clare (Lee, 54′), Djoum, Wighton (Mulraney, 46′), Garuccio (Mitchell, 62′), MacLean, Dikamona, Morrison.
Referee: Craig Thomson
Attendance: 5,727
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
