Sheridan double closes down Hearts' unbeaten run

By Barry Anderson
CILLIAN Sheridan's double consigned Hearts to their first defeat in six league matches as the Edinburgh club lost ground in their pursuit of third-placed Motherwell in the SPL.
St Johnstone thoroughly merited their victory, which arrived courtesy of some intelligent attacking play from Sheridan and his strike partner, the dynamic Francisco Sandaza.

Both the Irishman's goals were created by the Spaniard's vision and passing ability, whilst Hearts in truth lacked creativity in the final third and ultimately suffered for it. Following the midweek League Cup defeat to Ayr United, the Tynecastle players must now rejuvenate themselves for next weekend's visit of Celtic.

St Johnstone, though, are now level on points with Hearts ini the league after what could be considered their finest performance of the campaign to date.

Only Danny Grainger and Marius Zaliukas survived Hearts' midweek cup exit in Ayrshire as manager Paulo Sergio made nine changes to his starting line-up. One of those restored, Ryan Stevenson, sent a shot rising over the St Johnstone crossbar on nine minutes. Chris Millar dispatched a similar attempt at the opposite end which did not trouble Jamie MacDonald.

The goalkeeper punched Liam Craig's free-kick attempt for a corner following defensive errors by Andy Webster and Marius Zaliukas, which led to Webster being penalised for impeding Francisco Sandaza. Then came the opening goal on the half-hour mark.

Sandaza slid a sublime through pass in behind the Hearts rearguard for Sheridan, and the Irishman waited for MacDonald to emerge before dispatching the ball high in to the net. Craig should have doubled the advantage moments later, a chance which again presented itself after defensive confusion from Hearts. Sheridan teed up the midfielder eight yards out but he failed to connect properly with the ball and the effort bounced wide.

Grainger, facing his former club, arced a free-kick goalwards in the 38th minute which Peter Enckelman held confidently. From the full-back's corner kick, Ryan Stevenson headed wide at the back post when it looked easier to score. That completed the first-half action in front of a desperately low crowd of 2770.

Hearts defender Andy Webster was withdrawn at the interval, for tactical reasons, with David Templeton the replacement. The visitors adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation hoping to restore parity, but it was St Johnstone who scored again by virtue of another instinctive through ball from Sandaza.

The Spaniard won possession from Jamie Hamill and threaded the ball into Sheridan's path. Looking cool and composed as defenders closed in, he rounded the advancing MacDonald and calmly rolled his finish into an empty net.

Hearts strove to increase the pace requiring two goals to level the match. Enckelman spilled a venomous 20-yard drive from Jamie Hamill, and seconds later the goalkeeper pushed Ryan Stevenson's backward header to safety. However clear chances were at a premium and the visitors left McDiarmid Park frustrated that their efforts had come to nothing.

St Johnstone (4-4-2): Enckelman; Mackay, McCracken, Anderson, Maybury; Gibson (Robertson 73), Millar, Moon, Craig; Sandaza (Haber 85), Sheridan. Subs: Mannus, Higgins, Durnan, May, McIntosh.

Hearts (4-3-1-2): MacDonald; Hamill, Webster (Templeton 46), Zaliukas, Grainger; Black, Mrowiec, Obua (G Smith 63); Taouil; Stevenson, S Elliott (Robinson 72). Subs: Balogh, Novikovas, Jonsson, Skacel.

Referee: Stevie O'Reilly.
Attendance: 2770.

Taken from the Scotsman