St Mirren 1-0 Hearts: Miguel Freckleton winner inflicts heavy blow on title hopes for Derek McInnes’ Jam Tarts

Ten-man Hearts dropped three essential factors within the race for the Scottish Premiership title with a gut-wrenching 1-0 late defeat to St Mirren in Paisley.

The league leaders performed for greater than an hour with one fewer participant after Craig Halkett’s first-half crimson card and survived a barrage of assaults till Miguel Freckleton’s emphatic 88th-minute winner.

The Jambos stay six factors clear on the prime however have handed chasers Celtic and Rangers the chance to shut the hole on Wednesday.

Stephen Robinson’s much-improved St Mirren earned a primary league victory in eight matches, taking them 12 factors away from backside spot as they transfer above Dundee into ninth.

In the end, the hosts deserved the win. They have been the higher of the 2 sides even previous to Halkett’s dismissal.

However that was the place early strain changed into an onslaught.

The stand-in Hearts captain initially coated properly for his defensive companion Stuart Findlay’s mistake however then stumbled in possession himself earlier than bringing down Jacob Devaney on the sting of the world to disclaim a transparent goalscoring alternative.

And the first-half drama didn’t cease there.

St Mirren captain Marcus Fraser had the ball behind the online, nevertheless, team-mate Alex Gogic was adjudged to be in an offside place when he headed the ball off the publish to tee up Fraser’s rebound.

Robinson’s facet then thought they’d a penalty when referee Steven McLean pointed to the spot following Harry Milne’s problem on Jayden Richardson, however the determination was overturned by VAR because the foul happened exterior of the penalty space.

Hearts stopper Alexander Schwolow was referred to as into motion once more early within the second interval as he produced an impressive save together with his proper shoulder from shut vary to disclaim Mikael Mandron.

The guests had seemingly weathered the storm thereafter however have been unable to duplicate the heroics of final month’s back-to-back victories with a numerical drawback as Freckleton gained it for the Buddies with a thunderous header from Declan John’s nook two minutes from time.

Hearts could also be simply three factors clear after they tackle metropolis rivals Hibernian subsequent week. That’s adopted by a top-of-the-table conflict with title-rivals Rangers on Sunday February 15 – dwell on Sky Sports activities.

Sunday fifteenth February 4:15pm


Kick off 4:30pm

Robinson: Deserved win helps our survival trigger

St Mirren supervisor Stephen Robinson chatting with Sky Sports activities:

“It was more like us tonight. That’s four unbeaten now, with two wins within that. We’re starting to build a little bit more momentum again. We’re starting to turn a corner. To put on a performance like that against the league leaders… it looked more like us. I thought we deserved it.

“We had a plenty of half-chances; it most likely ought to have been by extra. The sending off impacts the sport, however we have been affected person and managed to get the tip product.

“The way we started was excellent. Our press was really, really good and we kept taking the ball off them. We missed two or three really good chances, the penalty was overturned – both of the decisions were right, actually. I’ve just seen them back. We criticise referees enough, but you’ve got to say when they’ve got it right as well.

“As I mentioned, 4 video games unbeaten. We have managed to win a cup this season, which I feel individuals have forgotten as properly. We’ve got the possibility to get into the quarter-finals of one other cup on Friday evening. The objective in the beginning of each season at this membership is to remain within the division. The win tonight helps us do this.”

McInnes: We’re enjoying with fireplace if we hold happening to 10

Hearts supervisor Derek McInnes chatting with Sky Sports activities:

“Very [tough]. I thought we did what we had to do to get something out of the game, we’re working harder than we want to by constantly going to down to 10 men but we’ve caused that.

“We have been unbelievable with our coping mechanisms happening to 10 just lately however we’re enjoying with fireplace if we hold doing it.

“No complaints about the red card. Our refusal to play forward gets us in a state. We knew St Mirren would try to come after us, the difference between our centre-backs and theirs was 30 yards but we refused to play in behind them.

“We acquired the sport again to entrance. At instances it was okay, we would break the press and get via it, however we wanted to play in behind us much more.

“None more so than the red card. We’ve had two opportunities to play forward, and we don’t. We end up getting ourselves in a state, and it ends up with Halks having a last-gasp challenge. There’s no blame on him for that.

“There is a consequence as properly. You battle right here and attempt to salvage one thing from the sport however there is a consequence, a knock-on impact about having a participant suspended.

“There’s no complaints about the effort of the team and what we tried to do to manage it. We’ve done it recently, the belief and confidence is there in the team to try to get something from the game but the galling thing is it comes from a set play where a numerical advantage shouldn’t matter. We just got caught under the ball. It’s a good header but a free header six yards from goal, we’re playing with fire there too.

“Credit score to St Mirren, they stored going and asking questions however by and enormous we handled being a person down brilliantly up till the dying embers.”

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