Last gasp Hearts climb off the foot of the table
St Johnstone 3 Heart of Midlothian 3
Ladbrokes Premiership – Saturday 1st
February 2020 – McDiarmid Park
A
last gasp goal from Sean Clare earned Hearts a 3-3 draw in Perth on Saturday
afternoon and was enough to lift the Gorgie club off the foot of the Ladbrokes
Premiership table.
Hearts
went behind early in the game but came back through goals from Liam Boyce – his
second in two games – and captain Steven Naismith to lead at half time. However,
Daniel Stendel’s men were forced back in the second half as St Johnstone scored
twice and were poised for three vital points – until Clare’s dramatic late
goal.
Hearts
manager Daniel Stendel strives for consistency for his team and he made just
one change to the team that defeated Rangers at Tynecastle last Sunday – Ryotaro
Meshino replacing Lewis Moore.
Backed
by a huge travelling support, daring to be optimistic once more, Hearts began
the game positively and were on top in the early stages. Naturally then, the
home side took the lead in the 17th minute. McCann set up May and
the former Aberdeen striker fired past Hearts keeper Joel Pereira to make it
1-0.
The
goal was against the run of play, but Hearts didn’t feel sorry for themselves for
long. Nine minutes later Andy Irving played a delightful pass for Toby Sibbick
who crossed for Liam Boyce to stab the ball home and draw parity.
Five
minutes later and Hearts were in front. Saints keeper Clark didn’t deal with a
Hearts corner. John Souttar hooked the ball towards goal and Steven Naismith
nodded the ball home to put the Jambos ahead.
Hearts
could have added a third goal when Sibbick tried a long-range effort which went
inches wide.
Whatever
Saints manager Tommy Wright said to his players during the half-time interval
had the desired affect as the home team came out with all guns blazing. After
Wotherspoon came close, St Johnstone deservedly equalised when May set up
McCann who blasted home although Joel Pereira may feel he could have done
better.
It
was all Saints now as the Maroon Army began to wonder what had happened to
their team. Slack play from John Souttar almost allowed the home side to take
the lead when May saw his shot trickle wide.
In
the 62nd minute the goal St Johnstone had threatened arrived. Hearts
Craig Halkett pulled back Kerr inside the Hearts penalty box. Penalty said
referee Greg Aitken before booking Halkett for his trouble. May buried the
penalty kick and from being 2-1 up, Hearts were now trailing 3-2 and looking in
serious danger of losing the game and remaining bottom of the league.
The
home side almost clinched all three points in the 87th minute in
spectacular fashion. Hearts keeper Pereira was caught up the park and Saints
striker May tried his luck from around 45 yards. To his anguish, the Hearts
keeper recovered sufficiently to stop the ball crossing the line. It was to
prove to be a defining moment.
With three minutes of stoppage time played Hearts had one last chance. Steven Naismith fired a long ball towards substitute Uche Ikpeazu and Liam Boyce. The ball fell into the path of Sean Clare who blasted a glorious shot from 25 yards which flew into the net for Hearts equalising goal.
It
secured a 3-3 draw and meant Hearts moved off the bottom of the league table on
goal difference from Hamilton Academical – who play Celtic on Sunday. It’s a point
that may yet prove crucial at the end of the season.
Daniel
Stenger had mixed emotions after the game. He told BBC Sport Scotland:
“First-half, we
played very well and controlled the game. At 2-1 at half-time, I said to my
players to play the same and we would win. But I have no explanation for the
second half.
“We can be happy we
got one point in the end. Our defending was so bad in the second half. I need
some time to understand what happened.”
St Johnstone: Clark, Kerr, Gordon (O’Halloran, 42′), McCart,
Ralston, Tanser (Booth, 46′), Craig, McCann, Wotherspoon, Kane, May (Butcher,
90′).
Hearts: Pereira, White, Souttar, Clare, Naismith,
Halkett, Boyce, Sibbick (Washington, 71′), Irving, Henderson (Avdijaj, 80′),
Meshino (Ikpeazu, 60′).
Referee: Greg Aitken
Attendance: 6,002
Top man: Sean Clare
Thanks to Ian Bell of Aberdeen for the action shots.