Hearts’ title hopes hit by late St Mirren winner after Halkett’s expensive crimson card | Scottish Premiership

Craig Halkett’s first-half crimson card proved expensive for the Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts as they misplaced 1-0 at St Mirren after a late header from Miguel Freckleton. The centre-back was dismissed within the twenty ninth minute for denying the Saints debutant Jacob Devaney a goalscoring alternative.

It was the third time in 5 league video games that Hearts had been lowered to 10 males. Not like the earlier two events, nonetheless, they have been unable to grind out a lead to Paisley as Freckleton’s 88th-minute header consigned them to a 3rd defeat of the season. The outcome leaves Hearts six factors forward of Celtic and Rangers, each of whom play their video games in hand on Wednesday.

Stephen Robinson, the St Mirren supervisor, made 5 modifications to the facet that began the 0-0 draw with Dundee on Saturday, together with handing a debut to the on-loan Manchester United midfielder Devaney.

There have been two modifications to the Hearts group from the 3-0 win at Dundee United as Michael Steinwender and Beni Baningime got here in for Jordi Altena and Tomas Magnusson.

Saints had an honest probability within the third minute however Alex Gogic headed over from Declan John’s free-kick. On the different finish, Alexandros Kyziridis noticed a shot from the sting of the field simply saved by Shamal George. It proved to be the guests’ solely notable try of the primary half.

The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow needed to make save from Mikael Mandron earlier than Devaney’s cross from the correct struck the highest of the crossbar. Gogic then noticed an inswinging cross from the left clawed out by Schwolow because the Buddies cranked up the stress.

Hearts endured a blow within the twenty ninth minute after they have been lowered to 10 males. Stuart Findlay acquired caught dithering on the ball by Mandron, forcing fellow centre-back Halkett into some frantic last-ditch defending that resulted in him fouling Devaney simply outdoors the field and being despatched off. From the ensuing free-kick, Killian Phillips’s effort was beautifully saved by Schwolow, with Mandron unable to power within the rebound.

Saints thought they’d gone forward within the thirty ninth minute when Marcus Fraser headed dwelling the rebound after Gogic had nodded John’s free-kick towards the publish however it was dominated out for offside.

There was extra frustration for the hosts simply earlier than half-time after they have been awarded a penalty after Harry Milne fouled Jayden Richardson on the correct fringe of the field, however VAR deemed the offence was outdoors the field. John fizzed the ensuing free-kick agonisingly past the far publish.

Saints continued to knock on the door early within the second half and Schwolow produced a spectacular save to disclaim Mandron. However Hearts began to grow to be a menace on the counterattack, with Cláudio Braga specifically carrying the combat to the Saints defence.

It felt like the sport may go both approach within the closing levels and Saints ultimately made the breakthrough when Freckleton headed dwelling John’s nook from shut vary.

“We’ve seen earlier than in latest weeks after we go all the way down to 10 males, I feel there’s a perception there that we are able to go and get outcomes and I feel that confirmed within the efficiency,” stated the Hearts supervisor, Derek McInnes.

“However we’ve acquired to personal the truth that we are able to’t maintain getting away with it, you possibly can’t maintain enjoying with fireplace. It’s a crimson card, there’s no grievance about that, however we prompted it, we acquired ourselves right into a fankle.

“We had two alternatives to play it ahead, and we get ourselves in a little bit of a state, and it culminates in a last-gasp problem, and we’ve paid for it,” McInnes added. “From that time on, it was simply ensuring we stored it at zero for so long as we are able to after which hope for a second.”