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| <-Page | <-Team | Wed 29 Dec 2010 St Mirren 0 Hearts 2 | Team-> | Page-> |
| <-Srce | <-Type | BBC ------ Report | Type-> | Srce-> |
| Jim Jefferies 2nd | <-auth | None | auth-> | Crawford Allan |
| ----- | John Paul Potter | |||
| 2 | of 007 | David Templeton 63 ;Kevin Kyle pen 82 | L SPL | A |
St Mirren 0 Hearts 2By Clive Lindsay David Templeton continued his rich vein of form to inspire Hearts to victory over dogged St Mirren in Paisley. The visitors dominated much of the match, but the Buddies were the more dangerous on the break and Stephen Thomson had a good effort saved. Templeton's trickery took him into the penalty box and he fired home from 14 yards after 63 minutes. The winger was then brought down by John Potter, who was sent off before Kevin Kyle scored from the spot. The victory keeps Hearts six points clear of the pack in third place, while St Mirren remain six points clear of bottom side Hamilton in 10th place. Calum Elliot had replaced virus victim Stephen Elliott for a Hearts side also missing injured influential midfielder Rudi Skacel. Jamie MacDonald started in goal in place of Marian Kello and he was quickly under pressure. St Mirren were without the suspended Gareth Wardlaw, leaving Paul McGowan to support Michael Higdon up front, and the pair combined to set up the first chance. Higdon's head flick fell for McGowan, but the unmarked forward's poked effort from just outside the penalty box failed to find the target. It was Higdon's turn to have a go and he nearly found the target at the second attempt after St Mirren were awarded a free-kick 20 yards from goal. The striker's initial effort was fired aimlessly into the defensive wall, but he sent a low drive a couple of feet wide from the rebound. Steven Thomson tussles with Hearts' Calum Elliot Thomson and Elliot went close for their respective sides Hearts were dominating possession, but they were being denied clear-cut chances inside a crowded Buddies penalty box. Kyle chested down a Ruben Palazuelos cross, but the striker's fierce shot that was deflected wide off Paddy Cregg was typical of the visitors' attempts on goal. St Mirren were forced into a change after only 24 minutes when the injured McGowan, clutching his side, made way for Craig Dargo. It did not prevent St Mirren from continuing to create the better chances on the break. A Higdon header put Thomson clear, but the midfielder's angled drive was fired against the legs of Hearts' stand-in goalkeeper. Elliot dragged a shot wide at the other end as a disappointing first half drew to a close. St Mirren were looking more dangerous now and threatened again when Darren McGregor's header landed kindly for Dargo, but he diverted the ball over from close range. However, Templeton broke the deadlock after a trademark bit of trickery from the wide man. He weaved his way through the heart of the St Mirren defence, rode his luck as the ball deflected back into his path off an opponent's foot, before firing past goalkeeper Paul Gallacher. Substitute Elliot was denied a second for Hearts when his low drive was deflected clear off Gallacher's legs. St Mirren pressed for the equaliser but were caught on the counter-attack by Templeton, who was hauled down by Potter. As the home defender headed for the dressing-room, Kyle stepped up to send Gallacher the wrong way from the penalty spot.  Taken from the BBC |
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| <-Page | <-Team | Wed 29 Dec 2010 St Mirren 0 Hearts 2 | Team-> | Page-> |
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