St Mirren picked up a point against league leaders Hearts after an eventful 2-2 draw at The SMiSA Stadium. But once again, a VAR decision proved costly and frustrating as the Buddies were denied the opportunity to go 3-1 up when Miguel Freckleton's second goal was disallowed.
Dan Nlundulu made it two in two as his stunning overhead kick gave Saints the lead. A defensive error allowed Lawrence Shankland to level for the visitors. Freckleton put Stephen Robinson's men ahead for the second time with a tidy finish early in the second-half. And he thought he'd extended the lead when he added a third five minutes later. But a baffling VAR call saw the goal overturned to the bemusement of all in the stadium. Hearts levelled through Claudio Braga with 20 minutes remaining and thought they'd won it in the final minutes, only for Pierre Kabore's goal to be disallowed for offside.
Richard King came in for the suspended Alex Gogic, while Mikael Mandron led the line with Nlundulu in the only two changes from Saturday's defeat to Dundee United.
An even opening to the match was stirred on 13 minutes when Beni Baningime struck the post for the visitors. The ball rolled along the line before going out for a goal-kick. Four minutes later, Saints threatened with Mandron heading into the side-net.
Saints broke the deadlock heading into the half-hour mark when Nlundulu scored his second goal for the Buddies. Shamal George lifted a free-kick into the Hearts box where Nlundulu brought it under control before sending an overhead kick high into the net with Alexander Schwolow unable to get near it.
Dan Nlundulu scores overhead kick (Image: Allan Picken)
Frustratingly, Hearts found themselves level six minutes later. Keanu Baccus attempted to bring a defensive header under control in his box, but his heavy touch landed at the feet of Shankland who finished beyond George to equalise.
The Buddies flew out the traps at the start of the second-half with a beautiful Phillips ball over the top finding Mandron. The forward brought the ball down but saw his shot well blocked by Oisin McEntee. Phillips was then the recipient of a brilliant cross from Declan John only to see his header turned over by Schwolow. Saints retook the lead from the resulting corner with the ball eventually landing at the feet of Freckleton who smashed home from close range.
Miguel Freckleton scores against Hearts (Image: Allan Picken)
Freckleton thought he had his second and Saints' third five minutes later. John's free-kick delivery was superb and found the head of Freckleton. He bulleted a header off the post but quickly met the rebound and fired into the net to give the Buddies a commanding lead over the league leaders. Or so he thought. Referee Matthew MacDermid was called over to the monitor and eventually disallowed the goal for what was seemingly a foul by captain Mark O'Hara, but it was hard to see what the infringement actually was.
Undeterred, Saints came agonisingly close on 69 minutes when Schwolow made a truly stunning save to deny Phillips' header. And within a minute the visitors found themselves level. George made a wonderful stop to touch Alexandros Kyziridis' effort onto the bar. But Braga was on hand to knock into the net.
Substitute Jonah Ayunga forced another big save from Schwolow as the game headed into the final 10 minutes. The visitors thought they had won it in the dying minutes when Kabore eventually forced home at close range, but VAR eventually disallowed the goal with McEntee offside in the build up.
Full-Time: St Mirren 2-2 Hearts
St Mirren: George, Fraser, King, Freckleton, McMenamin (Sobowale 85), Phillips, Baccus (Donnelly 75), O'Hara (c), John, Mandron, Nlundulu (Ayunga 75)
Subs Not Used: Mullen, Tanser, Idowu, Calvin, Taylor, Mooney
Hearts: Schwolow, McEntee, Halkett, Findlay, Kingsley (Kabore 66), Milne, Devlin, Baningime, Kyziridis, Braga (Magnusson 85), Shankland
Subs Not Used: Gordon, McCart, Kabangu, Steinwender, Spittal, Kertoja, Ageu
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
AR1: Chris Rae
AR2: Graham McNeillie
VAR: Nick Walsh
Attendance: 7,105
