HEARTS BEATING FASTER

Sunday Mirror, Aug 24, 2008 by RAY HEPBURN

HEARTS 2

Mole 45, Stewart (pen) 75

ST MIRREN 1

Mehmet 70

HEARTS finally ground down 10-man St Mirren to start their season with a 100 per cent home record.

But after beating Motherwell by a single goal on day one, they will still need to progress to fashion a much-improved season.

The Edinburgh team had great energy but we don't know what would have happened without Antonio Tonet's stupidity.

The Spanish-born Paisley winger was booked in 21 minutes, then just three minutes later he was cautioned again after a lunge at Michael Stewart (below).

That was the end for him and for the Saints, who scored through Billy Mehmet with their first shot on goal in 70 minutes.

Despite the lack of investment in the team over the summer, Hearts will be a match for any SPL side at Tynecastle. It's away that many see their campaign going off the rails.

In front of the passionate home fans it was Saints who found an extra late gear as Jim Hamilton was sent on to help Mehmet up front - but too little too late. And for Hearts, Ugandan David Obua played exceptionally well, with good touch and passing.

Hearts led in first-half stoppage time when Mark Howard got a hand to a 25-yard thunderbolt from Jamie Mole but was beaten by the sheer pace of the shot.

Against the run of play, Saints equalised when Hamilton headed onto Hugh Murray and his cutback left Mehmet with a tap-in.

Hearts had two penalties in the last 15 minutes - Stewart scored with the first but in injury time Howard saved from the Hearts skipper.

Home boss Csaba Laszlo said: "I was happy with our play but we missed too many chances."

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson said: "Losing a player was a blow and gave us an uphill struggle."

HOW THEY RATED

HEARTS

Kello 5, Thomson 5, Zaliukas 6, Berra 6, Wallace 5 (Cesnauskis 4), Driver 6, Kingston 6 (Ksanavicius 4), Stewart 6, Karipidis 5, Obua 7, Mole 6 (Nade 4).

MANAGER Laszlo 6

ST MIRREN

HOWARD 8, Ross 5, Potter 6, Haining 6, Miranda 6, Brady 5 (Hamilton 6), Dorman 5 (McGinn 5) Mason 6, O'Donnell 5 (Murray 5), Tonet 4, Mehmet 6.

MANAGER McPherson 6

REFEREE C Murray 6

MAN OF THE MATCH

MARK HOWARD

String of magnificent saves.