Saturday, November 21, 2009

Live text - Scottish Premier League

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times GMT)

MY SPORT: DEBATE

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By Thomas McGuigan


1346: GOAL! Hearts 1-1 St Johnstone (Collin Samuel)

1344: "Christian Nade's feeling good about himself. There's a weight, if you'll pardon the pun, off his shoulders." BBC Scotland's John Robertson.

1342: Both sides are struggling to establish any rhythm in the driving rain at Tynecastle. Hearts just about merit their lead. Saints need to get Collin Samuel more involved in proceedings if they want to go back to Perth with a point.

1338: Lee Wallace scythes down Kenny Deuchar and St Johnstone have another free-kick in a dangerous area but again the delivery is poor.

1337: But Grainger sends his shot straight at the wall and Hearts clear the danger.

1336: Collin Samuel earns a free-kick on the edge of the Hearts penalty area. Chance for the visitors to restore parity here. Danny Grainger sets himself to fire one in...

1335: St Johnstone are snapping at Hearts heels early in the second half but have yet to seriously test Janos Balogh.

1333: "People are saying it's getting dark around Scotland - well, we've got the Moon out here." BBC Scotland commentator Paul Mitchell introduces St Johnstone substitute Kevin Moon.
Will he be a full moon after his dinner? Ouch, sorry, a line from Alan Partridge there...

1332: The second half gets under way at Tynecastle.

1327:
My Sport
From Bringthemonjpn On My Sport: "Now that Hearts have scored their once-a-month goal, let's hope St Johnstone can get an early one back in the second half."


1317: Hearts are kings of Tynecastle at the break courtesy of Christian Nade's first goal in 23 games. That has to be an early contender for goal of the season.

1315: HALF-TIME Hearts 1-0 St Johnstone

1313: Suddenly, Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo is an oasis of calm on the touchline. With Christian Nade playing with a spring in his step, the Jambos are at last baring their teeth.

1311: With Ninja-like reflexes, Hearts goalkeeper Janos Balogh races from goal to save bravely at the feet of Filipe Morais. St Johnstone come agonisingly close to an equaliser against the run of play.

1310: "Jason Thomson is a player all right. He is not shy about getting forward. That was a great drive from him!" BBC Radio Scotland pundit John Robertson is evidently a fan of the Hearts right-back.

1309: Dial A Cliche, as Morrissey once sang, but what a difference a goal makes. Hearts are suddenly swarming all over St Johnstone and David Obua is denied by a brilliant Graeme Smith save, and Ruben Palazuelos fluffs his lines inside the box. Saints are rocking here, six minutes before the break and Hearts are going for the jugular.

1308: "It's a terrific goal. He just rolls the centre half and strikes it beautifully. It's a big big goal for Hearts and a big big goal for Christian Nade." BBC Scotland's John Robertson

1306:
Goooooooaaaaaaaaal
Did I mention the game was crying out for a bit of magic? Christian Nade gathers the ball about 30 yards from goal and sends a howitzer of a shot past the despairing reach of Saints keeper Graeme Smith.
What. A. Goal.

1305: GOAL! Hearts 1-0 St Johnstone (Christian Nade)

1301: Christian Nade tries to lob the ball over the St Johnstone defence for the galloping Gary Glen but the sea of blue holds firm and Hearts are frustrated once again.

1259: BBC Radio Scotland pundit John Robertson has just noted there seems to be a fear factor permeating Tynecastle at the moment. Certainly, the groans of disapproval that greet every failed foray forward are getting louder...

1258: Hearts left back Lee Wallace scampers down the wing but his delivery is easily repelled by the St Johnstone defence and the game is crying out for a bit of magic.

1257: Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo is beginning to lose his temper over his side's lack of cutting edge. With suit jacket and tie fluttering in the Edinburgh breeze, he bellows some tactical instructions to his midfield. Clearly, the Hungarian is expects better.

1256: "It's a lively enough opening but you can sense the frustration from the stands. Hearts don't produce much up front." BBC Radio Scotland's John Robertson

1253: Neither goalkeeper has been forced into making a save of any note in a fairly drab opening 25 minutes in the Scottish capital.

1251: St Johnstone striker Kenny Deuchar takes a sore one in the face after Jose Goncalves catches him flush in the coupon with a stray boot. The Saints man tumbles to the ground but no penalty.

1249: The ball is taking an absolute doing in midfield and Janos Balogh thumps it towards the moon and out for a shy to St Johnstone. Come on boys, get the finger out and give us some football!

1247: Christian Nade gets his head to a monster, monster kick from Hearts keeper Janos Balogh but heads the ball straight out for a St Johnstone goal kick. Eye-wateringly poor stuff there...

1246: After an enterprising start, Hearts are sending long balls towards lone frontman Christian Nade and St Johnstone look far more comfortable repelling these aerial attacks.

1243:
My Sport
From David Attenborough On My Sport: "It shows how far the level of the SPL has plummeted that an English lower-league reject (Jody Morris) is now 'pulling the strings' for a top level Scottish team."
A bit harsh there Davy boy!

1242: Filipe Morais carves out the visitors' first chance of the game, sending a low shot from inside the penalty area towards goal but Janos Balogh gathers comfortably.

1240: St Johnstone appear to have weathered the early Hearts storm, much to the chagrin of Jambos boss Csaba Laszlo, who is pacing the technical area like a Hungarian bear with a sore head.

1238:
My Sport
From mugpunter32 On My Sport: "St Johnstone are a good team to watch but I think Hearts will just have too much for them. 1-0 would be my bet. "

1236: Christian Nade and David Obua combine with the latter sending a wicked cross into the box but midfielder Ian Black sends his shot wide of the post. Great chance for the Jambos to draw first blood.

1235: Hearts striker Christian Nade shows a bit of magic to dance away from a couple of St Johnstone challenges but his cross is punched clear by Smith. A great start by the hosts at Tynecastle...

1232: Hearts fans howl for a free-kick following Danny Grainger's backpass to Saints keeper Graeme Smith but referee Stevie O'Reilly is having none of it!

1231: Saints boss Derek McInnes made three changes from the side that lost 2-1 at Aberdeen. Graham Gartland failed to shake off a shoulder problem and Stuart McCaffrey deputised. Liam Craig and Jonatan Johansson also dropped to the bench for Kenny Deuchar and Filipe Morais. Danny Grainger shrugged off a thigh knock to start.

1230: We're under way at Tynecastle.

1226: Hearts, who are looking to arrest a run of three league games without a goal, bring in Gary Glen and David Obua for Andrew Driver and Arvydas Novikovas.

1222:
My Sport
From GlasgowJambo1987 On My Sport: "It really is too close to call. St Johnstone create chances and take them, Hearts keep it tight and create chances but don't take them. So much will depend on the first goal - and there will be goals I'm sure of that."

1220: Following a traumatic week for Scotland and former manager George Burley, it's good to get our teeth into some SPL action again.

1219: Later this afternoon, we've got Rangers against Kilmarnock, St Mirren take on Hibs, it's Falkirk against Hamilton and Motherwell host Aberdeen. Here's hoping for a goalfest!

1217: The two sides battled out an entertaining 2-2 draw at McDiarmid Park in August. Saints won on their last visit to the Jambos' ground in March 2002, a few months before the Perth side were relegated from the SPL. Hearts, who are a point ahead of their visitors, last enjoyed a victory over St Johnstone in January 2002.

1215: TEAMS - Hearts: Balogh, Jason Thomson, Bouzid, Goncalves, Wallace, Black, Michael Stewart, Palazuelos, Obua, Nade, Glen. Subs: Kello, Jonsson, Kingston, Witteveen, Novikovas, Mulrooney, Craig Thomson.

St Johnstone: Smith, MacKay, Rutkiewicz, McCaffrey, Grainger, Davidson, Millar, Morris, Morais, Deuchar, Samuel. Subs: Main, Irvine, Moon, Craig, Johansson, Durnan, May.

1214: First up we have Hearts against St Johnstone at Tynecastle.

1210: Welcome to another afternoon of Scottish Premier League action.

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