Calem Nieuwenhof marked his first begin in virtually a 12 months by scoring a shocking purpose as Hearts got here from behind to defeat St Mirren 3-1 at Tynecastle and climb into the highest six of the William Hill Premiership for the primary time this season.
The Australian midfielder scored an important equaliser towards the identical opponents within the Jambos’ Scottish Cup win in Paisley simply over a fortnight in the past when he got here off the bench for his first look since March 2 final 12 months.
And Nieuwenhof was as soon as once more the scourge of the Saints as he curled dwelling a beautiful end from 20 yards out within the 63rd minute to edge his facet in entrance after teenage team-mate James Wilson had cancelled out Mikael Mandron’s first-half opener for the guests.
Substitute Kenneth Vargas’ added-time purpose capped a hard-fought victory that took the in-form Jambos – who had been backside as just lately as December 22 – above the Buddies and inside 5 factors of third-placed Aberdeen.
Hearts boss Neil Critchley made three modifications from the facet that began Sunday’s 2-1 win at St Johnstone as Sander Kartum was given his first begin since becoming a member of in January and Gerald Taylor and Nieuwenhof each got here in for his or her first begins following prolonged harm lay-offs.
St Mirren had been unchanged from the facet that began the 2-0 win away to Rangers on Saturday.
The Buddies began aggressively and usually prevented their hosts producing any rhythm within the early levels. When Hearts did ultimately get right into a threatening place within the twenty eighth minute after a superb move from Lawrence Shankland to launch Wilson, Saints defender Richard Taylor obtained again to make a superb saving sort out within the field.
The guests went forward within the thirty eighth minute when Mandron pounced to lash dwelling the unfastened ball from six yards out after Declan John’s volley from a Ryan Alebiosu cross was blocked by Hearts defender Michael Steinwender.
Saints threatened once more in first-half stoppage time when Mandron headed Killian Phillips’ lengthy throw in direction of purpose but it surely was held by Craig Gordon.
The Buddies had been effectively price their interval lead and maybe surprisingly it was they – and never Hearts – who made two modifications for the beginning of the second half as Elvis Bwomono and Toyosi Olusanya changed Alebiosu and Jonah Ayunga.
The Paisley males had additional possibilities to increase their lead after the restart, with Taylor heading simply broad from John’s nook earlier than Olusanya was denied by Gordon.
Hearts, having provided little, obtained themselves stage within the 56th minute when James Penrice’s supply from the left was not handled by Taylor, who sliced his clearance up within the air, and it dropped for Wilson, who managed it on his thigh earlier than slotting previous Zach Hemming from six yards out.
Nieuwenhof then turned the sport in his facet’s favour with a chic end. Saints midfielder Phillips was proven a pink card for a sturdy aerial problem on Jamie McCart within the seventieth minute, though it was downgraded to a yellow following a VAR verify. Vargas sealed the win with a tap-in deep into added time.
