St Mirren and Hearts played out an entertaining draw in Paisley that featured some late VAR drama as Saints extended their unbeaten home run to 10 matches.
Saints were well on top in the first half but only had one goal to show for their efforts, Ryan Strain's deflected free-kick giving them the lead inside five minutes. A goal early in the second half drew the visitors level, Robert Snodgrass' cross-come-shot deceiving everyone as it sailed into the net. That moment seemed to transform the sluggish Jambos who enjoyed the better of the second half.
It looked like the points would be shared but Saints sensed one last change when they were awarded a stoppage time free-kick. However, VAR intervened and eventually deemed that not only had Marcus Fraser committed the foul, but he had done so seriously enough to merit a red card. His team-mates were untroubled in what little time remained as the spoils were shared.
It was a much changed Saints team to the one that drew with Kilmarnock on Monday. Mark O'Hara swapped places on the naughty step with Ethan Erhahon, while Joe Shaughnessy replaced Declan Gallagher at the back. There were also starts for Alex Gogic and Alex Greive, Greg Kiltie and Eamonn Brophy having to make do with the bench. Lawrence Shankland, who spent two spells on loan in Paisley what feels like a lifetime ago, led the Jambos attack.
There was a minute's applause ahead of kick-off in honour of Saints legend Frank McGarvey, who sadly passed away on New Year's Day, before his old club took the lead after just a few minutes. When Keanu Baccus' charge forward was abruptly brought to a halt, it give Saints a free-kick in a dangerous position. Strain stepped up to take it and his effort deflected off Tony Sibbick in the the wall, sending it spinning past Zander Clark into the bottom corner.
Ryan Strain curls home a free-kick from 25 yards (Image: Allan Picken)
Unfortunately, Strain's afternoon wouldn't continue much longer. The wingback was clearly in a lot of pain when he went down with no one near him and he had to be replaced with Ryan Flynn. Just before that, we'd had the first VAR check of the afternoon to see if a Shankland shot had been blocked by an arm, with ref Chris Graham eventually told he could get on with things.
Despite the loss of Strain, Saints looked the more likely to score next. Some neat passing play gave Curtis Main a sight of goal and his dragged shot almost turned into a great pass to Greive, the Kiwi just unable to get on the end of it. A long throw from Shaughnessy then caused problems for the Hearts defence, who could only head it back out to the lurking Flynn. His fierce shot looked goalbound but it hit off Greive, who hadn't been able to get out the way, and went wide.
The Hearts fans had had little to get excited about but a Robert Snodgrass free-kick gave them some hope, however Kye Rowles couldn't connect properly and headed wide. Saints were appealing for a penalty when Baccus collected Main's tremendous cross before going down under a challenge from a Hearts defender, however Mr Graham decided the Aussie midfielder had gone down too easily and booked him for simulation instead. Main curled one over the bar a few minutes later before Greive had two great chances to extend the lead in stoppage time, first volleying over Flynn's cross then failing to connect with a great ball across goal from Main.
Kiltie replaced the booked Baccus at the break before some silky play from Main saw him sting the palms of Clark. The next ball into the Hearts box caused chaos – but not as much as a cross at the other end. The home defence dealt with the initial Jambos corner but the ball was worked back to Snodgross, whose delivery was missed by everyone (despite Shankland trying to claim it) and bounced into the net.
Mark O'Hara curled a free-kick wide after Kiltie was fouled by Rowles as Saints tried to restore their lead before Hearts almost went in front, Barrie McKay being given far too much time to find Alan Forrest who shot into the side netting. Hearts were enjoying plenty of space on the Saints left, Michael Smith delivering a tempting cross for Shankland but he headed straight at Trevor Carson. His next header went over the bar, at which point the expected VAR check for a possible handball by Gogic failed to materialise.
Saints had struggled since the equaliser but began to come into things, Main forcing his way through the Hearts defence before he stabbed a shot at Clark. The goalie denied Main again when he turned his shot away at the end of a slick counter attack before Kiltie shot wide from the edge of the box. Another counter saw Olutoyosi Olusanya – who had replaced Greive – sent away but he shot wildly over when he should perhaps have passed.
VAR had had a relatively quiet day, but that changed deep into stoppage time when Saints were awarded a free-kick. After a long wait, Mr Graham was eventually told to have a look at the monitor, which he duly did for a good few minutes before deciding his clear and obvious error had been not sending Marcus Fraser off.
Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Hearts
St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Strain (Flynn 18), Baccus (Kiltie 46), Gogic, O'Hara, Tanser, Greive (Olusanya 78, R.Taylor 90), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Campbell, Reid, F.Taylor, Brophy
Hearts: Clark, M.Smith, Rowles, Sibbick, Cochrane, Devlin (Grant 81), Forrest (Humphrys 69), McKay Ginnelly, Snodgrass, Shankland
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Kio, Atkinson, Neilson, Henderson, C.Smith
Referee: Chris Graham
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Mike Roncone
VAR: Colin Steven
Assistant VAR: Daniel McFarlane
Attendance: 7,249
