Hearts Made To Rue Halkett’s Dismissal After Freckleton’s Late Winner

Craig Halkett’s first-half reddish paper proved costly for nan Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts arsenic they mislaid 1-0 astatine St Mirren aft a precocious header from Miguel Freckleton. The centre-back was dismissed successful nan 29th infinitesimal for denying nan Saints debutant Jacob Devaney a goalscoring opportunity.

It was nan 3rd clip successful 5 convention games that Hearts had been reduced to 10 men. Unlike nan erstwhile 2 occasions, however, they were incapable to grind retired a consequence successful Paisley arsenic Freckleton’s 88th-minute header consigned them to a 3rd conclusion of nan season. The consequence leaves Hearts six points up of Celtic and Rangers, some of whom play their games successful manus connected Wednesday.

Stephen Robinson, nan St Mirren manager, made 5 changes to nan broadside that started nan 0-0 tie pinch Dundee connected Saturday, including handing a debut to nan on-loan Manchester United midfielder Devaney.

There were 2 changes to nan Hearts squad from nan 3-0 triumph astatine Dundee United arsenic Michael Steinwender and Beni Baningime came successful for Jordi Altena and Tomas Magnusson.

Saints had a decent chance successful nan 3rd infinitesimal but Alex Gogic headed complete from Declan John’s free-kick. At nan different end, Alexandros Kyziridis saw a changeable from nan separator of nan container easy saved by Shamal George. It proved to beryllium nan visitors’ only notable effort of nan first half.

The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow had to make a bully prevention from Mikael Mandron earlier Devaney’s transverse from nan correct struck nan apical of nan crossbar. Gogic past saw an inswinging transverse from nan near clawed retired by Schwolow arsenic nan Buddies cranked up nan pressure.

Hearts endured a rustle successful nan 29th infinitesimal erstwhile they were reduced to 10 men. Stuart Findlay sewage caught dithering connected nan shot by Mandron, forcing chap centre-back Halkett into immoderate frantic last-ditch defending that resulted successful him fouling Devaney conscionable extracurricular nan container and being sent off. From nan resulting free-kick, Killian Phillips’s effort was superbly saved by Schwolow, pinch Mandron incapable to unit successful nan rebound.

Stuart Findlay, seen present aft nan crippled ended, gave distant possession earlier Halkett tried to intervene and was sent off. Photograph: Steve Welsh/PA

Saints thought they had gone up successful nan 39th infinitesimal erstwhile Marcus Fraser headed location nan rebound aft Gogic had nodded John’s free-kick against nan station but it was ruled retired for offside.

There was much vexation for nan hosts conscionable earlier half-time erstwhile they were awarded a punishment aft Harry Milne fouled Jayden Richardson connected nan correct separator of nan box, but VAR deemed nan offence was extracurricular nan box. John fizzed nan resulting free-kick agonisingly beyond nan acold post.

Saints continued to sound connected nan doorway early successful nan 2nd half and Schwolow produced a spectacular prevention to contradict Mandron. But Hearts started to go a threat connected nan counterattack, pinch Cláudio Braga successful peculiar carrying nan conflict to nan Saints defence.

It felt for illustration nan crippled could spell either measurement successful nan closing stages and Saints yet made nan breakthrough erstwhile Freckleton headed location John’s area from adjacent range.