Match report

Saturday, 21 November 2009
Saints hit back to take the points

Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Hearts (1) v Saints (2)
Attendance [13,416]

Left: Collin Samuel heads home a Filipe Morais cross to make it 1-1.


Defender Graham Gartland failed to overcome the shoulder injury picked up at Pittodrie a fortnight ago and so Stuart McCaffrey came into the team for the lunchtime kick off against Hearts at Tynecastle and that was one of three changes from the Aberdeen reversal – Filipe Morais was in for Liam Craig and Kenny Deuchar replaced Jonaton Johansson.

Saints lined up with a positive approach with Samuel and Deuchar up front supported by Morais and Millar in wide positions but despite that they were on the back foot from the kick off and twice in the opening sixty seconds Hearts put the Perth rearguard under pressure.

First, Gary Glen tested Graeme Smith with the Saints keeper handling the effort pretty comfortably and then almost immediately the home fans were appealing for a free kick when Grainger knocked a Bouzid’s low cross back to Smith who picked it up. In truth, referee Stevie O’Reilly’s refusal to give it was a bit of a let-off for Saints.

Smith was being tested plenty in those opening minutes and he had to dive to his right to push out a Nade cross and the loose ball was eventually cleared and he could only look on as Ian Black sent a shot wide of his right hand post.
It was the 7th minute before Saints caused any level of concern at the other end when a Danny Grainger long throw fell to Collin Samuel who found Chris Millar but in trying to skip through the defence he ended up running the ball out of play.

Saints weathered that early storm but if the assembled crowd thought that opening ten minutes of action would be typical of what was to follow they were in for a disappointment as the game went into a long phase of misplaced passes and indecision.

It was poor fare but the home fans were on their feet in 34 minutes when their side took the lead with a goal out of nothing. Jambos striker Christian Nade took possession wide on the left and cut in-field – Kevin Rutkiewicz allowing him a tad too much space - and when he tried his luck from all of 30 yards he watched in delight as it zipped wide of a helpless Graeme Smith and into the far corner of the net. A great finish but a poor goal from a Perth point of view.

Buoyed by the goal, Hearts went looking for a second and the Saints defence was put right on the back foot for a few hectic minutes.

A Goncalves cross was met by Palazuelos whose effort on goal was only just turned away and then moments later Thomson tried an effort which wasn’t far away.

Captain Kevin Rutkiewicz was enduring a torrid few minutes and when he lost out in the centre circle to David Obua it allowed the Hearts man to race away and thankfully for Saints he opted to go wide and with his options for a shot on goal then narrowed he ended up crossing for Nade but the danger was cleared by the Saints defence.

Saints had a half-chance before the half-time whistle when a long clearance from Smith was headed on by Kenny Deuchar to Filipe Morais but he couldn’t get the ball past Jambos keeper Balogh

Derek McInnes took the opportunity to replace Chris Millar at half-time, Kevin Moon making just his second appearance of the season as his replacement and together with a presumably crystal clear team talk at the interval, Saints were immediately a more threatening proposition and Morais sent over a cross which was out of the reach of Collin Samuel by only inches in the opening minutes.

A free kick from Morais was the next chance but despite the brighter opening ten minutes of the second half Saints did not test Balogh in the Hearts goal.
Kevin Moon was the first booking of the afternoon but it mattered little just before the hour mark when Saints grabbed the goal that their early second half play merited. Danny Grainger found Filipe Morais on the left wing and he provided typical quick feet to beat a defender and get to the by-line and his cross was perfect for Collin Samuel who was able to head home, nodding it to the right of Hearts keeper Balogh.

It proved to be virtually the last contribution from the blue-booted Morais as he picked up an injury four minutes later and was replaced by Liam Craig.

The home side were not playing cohesively now and Saints continued to get forward as quickly as they could and Collin Samuel had two chances within moments of each other - Rutkiewicz knocked it forward to Deuchar who found Sammy and his angled drive was not far away, which is more than can be said for the second effort seconds later which was well wide.

There was a dramatic 120 seconds with 15 minutes remaining which brought the fans to their feet. First, Saints nearly took the lead when a Liam Craig cross was met by Jody Morris and his effort was only prevented from entering the net by the feet of the Hearts keeper and then the home side were reduced to ten men when Jose Goncalves was shown a straight red by referee Stevie O’Reilly for a reckless aerial challenge on Liam Craig. There was no suggestion of any elbow but the way he flew in on the Saints’ sub had the visiting fans on their feet right away and the referee had no doubts about the decision.

With the man advantage, Saints went looking for a winner and Liam Craig was unlucky to see a shot deflected onto the roof of the goal for a corner kick with eight minutes remaining.

Three minutes later Saints made their final change with Jonaton Johansson coming on for Murray Davidson – and what an impact he made!

The big striker touched the ball a couple of times in a Saints attack which saw Jody Morris ping a great ball to the back post where Liam Craig met it with his head, knocked it across goal and there was the big Finn to fire the ball into the net from close range – he later revealed it was his first SPL goal for ten years.

Saints saw out the minutes which remained plus injury time and the travelling support rose to acclaim the side at the final whistle.

A great win for Saints who put a mediocre first half behind them to turn it around after the break. Kevin Moon and Collin Samuel were the catalysts for the turnaround but the whole side were much more like the thing after half-time and given the relatively few chances created by either side over the 90 minutes, the win didn’t flatter them.

SAINTS: Smith, Mackay, Grainger, Rutkiewicz, McCaffrey, Morris, Millar (Moon), Davidson (Johansson), Deuchar, Samuel, Morais (Craig),
Subs not used: Main, Irvine, Durnan, May

Hearts: Balogh, Wallace, Goncalves, Palazuelos, Black (Thomson), Obua (Kingston), Nade, Thomson, Bouzid, Stewart, Glen (Witteveen).
Subs not used: Kello, Jonsson, Novikovas, Mulrooney,

Referee: Stevie O’Reilly

Att: 13, 416

PHOTOS:
Top - Samuel celebrates after making it 1-1
Bottom - Jonaton Johansson moves in for the kill as he scores the winner