Hearts 1-1 St Mirren

Hearts 1, St Mirren 1

Goals: Hearts - Jonsson 77. St Mirren - Droman 90

A LATE Andy Dorman equaliser denied Hearts victory and the chance to increase their superiority in third place, however a 2-2 draw between Aberdeen and Dundee United at Pittodrie will be looked on favourably by the Tynecastle club.

Both draws ensured Hearts remain two points clear of United in third, but they will curse the loss of an equaliser in stoppage time against a St Mirren team which rarely threatened during an unremarkable match.

Eggert Jonsson broke the visitors' resilience on 77 minutes after David Obua set up Christian Nade for a shot at Chris Smith. The St Mirren goalkeeper repelled the attempt but Jonsson slotted home competently. That goal looked to be sufficient for three points until Scott Cuthbert's header was converted by Dorman at the back post as late pressure paid dividends for Gus MacPherson's side.

Hearts began the day with more defensive disruption as Christos Karipidis was replaced by Jason Thomson in the home starting line-up. The Greek was beset by a virus and, consequently, Robbie Neilson found himself shunted inside to centre-back to accommodate Thomson at right-back. St Mirren fielded recent signing Mo Camara, the former Celtic full-back, and he instantly found himself on the back foot as Hearts streamed forward from kick-off.

After David Obua's drive trundled wide, the visitors were pinned inside their own half and Smith was required to palm Nade's shot for a corner on 18 minutes. Andy Driver's set-piece landed on Jonsson's right foot only for the ball to bounce back off Smith's left post. Nade could only redirect the rebound wide, but Hearts had certainly signalled their intent.

St Mirren's best opening of the first half was Hamilton's header from Dorman's left-sided free-kick, which finished narrowly wide. Although they offered some intricate passing at times, the Paisley side were regularly threatened by piercing balls in behind their back four. Obua and Driver caused endless problems in wide areas due to some intelligent supply from central midfield. Nade and Gary Glen also combined effectively through the middle, collecting several knock-ons from Obua.

A flurry of bookings occurred on 40 minutes after Hugh Murray bodychecked Lee Wallace in midfield. Aguiar's resultant free-kick was netbound until Smith appeared to touch it on to his crossbar and behind for a corner. However, referee David Somers awarded a goal-kick, enraging many of Tynecastle's natives in the process.

A goal at that juncture would have increased Hearts' confidence for the second half, which began with Larry Kingston replacing Glen and then being stretchered off moments later. The Ghanaian fell unchallenged and clutching his leg during an attacking move and was replaced by Ruben Palazuelos. The reorganisation did not disrupt Hearts' momentum greatly but they were toiling to convert the majority of possession into goals.

Saulius Mikoliunas was introduced with the intention of providing more of a cutting edge. It was the Lithuanian's first appearance since he sustained knee ligament damage against St Mirren last year. Seconds after he stepped on the field, the deadlock was broken. Mikoliunas was not involved but such was the craving for a goal that no-one amongst the home support cared a jot. In fact, it was Jonsson who converted.

Aguiar hurled a free-kick deep into the St Mirren penalty area which was angling out of play until the Icelander launched himself at the ball and somehow hooked it backwards to Obua. He stroked it across the face of goal, Nade's shot rebounded off Smith and a visiting defender before Jonsson finished with authority into the back of the net from around seven yards.

From then on Hearts' task seemed to be one of preservation, but a glarinig miss from Mikoliunas six yards out was to prove costly in the overall context of the game. He sliced Obua's cross into the air and ten seconds into stoppage time Dorman's equaliser secured St Mirren a point. Cuthbert nodded Jack Ross' free-kick downwards and the unmarked midfielder slotted the ball beyond Janos Balogh at the back post.

Given that the visitors played a Scottish Cup tie less than 48 hours before arriving at Tynecastle, they ended the afternoon as the happier of the two clubs.

Hearts (4-4-1-1): Balogh; Thomson, Neilson, Jonsson, Wallace; Obua, Stewart, Aguiar, Driver; Glen; Nade. Subs: Kello, Palazuelos 52 (for Kingston), Mikoliunas 77 (for Stewart), Kingston 46 (for Glen), Mrowiec, Cesnauskis, Elliot.

St Mirren: (4-4-2): Smith; Ross, Potter, Cuthbert, Camara; McGinn, Murray, Dorman, Brady; Mehmet, Hamilton. Subs: Howard, Mason, Haining, Wyness 89 (for Potter), Dargo 80 (for McGinn), Barron, Thomson 57 (for Murray).

Referee: David Somers.

Attendance: 13,609.