In a thrilling Scottish Premiership encounter, St Mirren and Hearts played to a dramatic 2-2 draw in Paisley. This result allowed Hearts to maintain a six-point lead at the top of the league table, despite their inability to secure a win.
Match Overview
St Mirren took the lead on two occasions with goals from Dan Nlundulu and Miguel Freckleton. Hearts managed to equalize twice, with Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga finding the net. VAR played a crucial role, intervening to rule out a second goal for Freckleton as well as a late effort from Hearts’ Pierre Landry Kabore.
Key Match Events
- Goals:
- Dan Nlundulu (St Mirren)
- Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)
- Miguel Freckleton (St Mirren)
- Claudio Braga (Hearts)
- VAR Interventions:
- Freckleton’s second goal disallowed
- Kabore’s late Hearts goal ruled out
This match marked just the second time that Derek McInnes’ St Mirren has dropped points this league season, halting their string of three consecutive defeats. They are preparing for a significant Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Motherwell on Saturday.
Team Changes and Performance
St Mirren made adjustments to their lineup, with Richard King coming in for the suspended Alex Gogic. Mikael Mandron replaced Jonah Ayunga in the attack. Conversely, Hearts maintained an unchanged lineup for the sixth consecutive match, a notable feat not achieved in nearly 40 years.
Match Highlights
The tension in the match was evident from the start. Hearts had the first significant opportunity but Braga’s strike was denied by Shamal George. St Mirren responded with a near miss from Declan John and a subsequent corner that went over the bar.
- First Half Highlights:
- Nlundulu put St Mirren ahead with an overhead kick at 28 minutes.
- Shankland equalized for Hearts in the 34th minute after a mistake by Keanu Baccus.
- Second Half Highlights:
- Freckleton scored again, but it was ruled out by VAR.
- Braga’s late header leveled the match at 2-2.
As a result of the draw, Hearts maintain their status atop the league, while St Mirren looks to regroup ahead of their upcoming cup challenge.
