Derek McInnes handed brutal Hearts reminder by St Mirren as Premier Sports Cup surge ends
Steven Robinson's men suffered shootout agony against the Jambos in the Scottish Cup last season but turned the tables this time with new recruit Malik Dijksteel ramming home the crucial kick after Shamal George superbly kept out an effort from Claudio Braga after the sides were locked after 120 minutes.
Saints had one foot in the last eight after Alex Gogic's sensational first half opener – only for Oisin McEntee's late header leveller.
READ MORE: Alistair Johnston stresses Celtic can't waste a single minute in quest for Champions League comfort
READ MORE: Rangers survive Alloa scare as Russell Martin search for scintillating style rumbles on – 5 talking points
Extra time couldn't sort out a winner but it was the Buddies who kept their never from 12 yards to end Hearts' unbeaten start to the season under new boss Derek McInnes.
Saints were good value for their lead after dominating the opening 35 minutes – and the free kick was superbly worked.
Killian Phillips played it short to Declan John and his in-swinging cross caused chaos in the Jambos backline.
It was begging to be stuck away and Gogic obliged in stunning style as he acrobatically smashed his valley past Zander Clark.
The keeper had already kept out a couple of Saints attacks by that stage as the home side dominated.
A couple of headers from Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay were as close as Hearts got during a frustrating first period.
McInnes made three changes at the break but Phillips forced another Clark stop with a long range rocket.
The Jambos enjoyed more of the ball after the break with subs Braga and Elton Kabunga providing a spark.
Saints were pushed back and the pressure was rising before McEntee thumped home his header from Harry Milne's corner with 12 minutes to go.
McInnes's men came close to a winner but a tired and tense extra time meant it needed penalties to sort it out - but the Saints would win 5-4 in the shoot-out.
Saints Joy
What a week for Saints and manager Steven Robinson. A new contract signed until 2028 and now progress in the League Cup against a Hearts side bursting with confidence.
The Buddies had to dig it out but the first half display was superb. Saints fans can dream of going all the way to Hampden but their side still need a bit more belief in the final third if they are to really hurt teams this season.
Jambo despair
In contrast, this was a massive blow to Hearts after the early season excites of the Tony Bloom revolution.
The Jambos cruised through the group stage and McInnes admitted Gorgie fans had every right to dream of lifting the trophy.
To go out at the first knockout hurdle will hurt the manager as much as the punters and it was a reminder the side are still a work in progress with many new faces still finding their feet.
Engine room motoring
Robinson caused a few eyebrows to raise with his claim his Saints have one of the best midfields in the country.
But they men in the battle ground backed up their gaffer's big praise with their display here.
Mark O'Hara, Keanu Baccus and Phillips were rock solid and they bullied the Jambos at times, especially in the first half.
The three of them are a tough as old boots but have quality on the ball as well. No one will enjoy squaring up with Saints this term.
Hard hitting debut
McInnes handed Pierre Landry Kabore a first start but it wasn't the best of days for the Burkina Faso cap.
He caused uproar in the home end by escaping a card after cementing Shamal George but eventually got booked before the break.
Kabore is no shrinking violet and his pace and power could cause problems but he was hooked at half-time here along with fellow winger Alexandros Kyziridis and midfielder Tomas Magnusson, who was on thin ice after an early yellow and it was replacement Caludio Braga who changed the game only to suffer from the spot.
Scotland calling
Steve Clarke will name his squad soon for the World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Belarus and there's some questions over who will be his main keeper with Craig Gordon injured and Angus Gunn now back up for Nottingham Forest.
Zander Clark is the main man at Hearts again and on this form he has to be in the frame to get the gloves for his country.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool fans get Marc Guehi insight from unlikely source - 'Hang on a minute'
Former Everton boss Sean Dyche has hinted that Crystal Palace may have backtracked on a gentleman's agreement to let Marc Guehi depart following Liverpool's interest. The Reds initiated discussions with Palace last week regarding a potential move for Guehi, who has just 12 months remaining on his Selhurst Park deal. Nevertheless, no fee has been agreed for the center-back, with a significant gap reportedly existing between Liverpool's valuation and Palace's demands. Rumors intensified over the weekend when reports emerged that Guehi had blanked Palace manager Oliver Glasner on the pitch after the team's scoreless Premier League stalemate with Chelsea. Dyche, who has previously managed Watford and Burnley, suspects there may be tensions between Palace and Guehi. READ MORE: Alexander Isak finally breaks silence on Newcastle fallout as Liverpool transfer hangs in the balance READ MORE: Alexander Isak could use little-known FIFA rule to force Newcastle transfer exit "When you make a lot of signings, you do the agreement for their contract, but we'll sort out a gentleman's agreement where we say we'll honor the player with an agreement off the record," he said. "Now you never know whether that's been said there. "With Guehi, and I imagine this is what's happened, probably a year ago, they said, 'Look, we get it, you're going to stick with us.' "And last summer, he stuck with it. "Again at Christmas, he stuck with it. "They might have said, 'By next summer, we'll know what's going to happen.'" Dyche, in a chat on the Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast in partnership with BOYLE Sports, added: "And if he's a good professional, which he seems fantastic to me, he doesn't want to go out there and start saying all that. "But at one point, he might have to go, 'Hang on a minute, they told me that if we do this, this, and this, then they'll let me have my chance.' "I've done it, and most managers have done it. "You say to the agent, 'We both know if they do that, we'll get them.' "Because there has to be some kind of negotiation, especially when I was at Burnley, because they're not a giant in football, so if a player does well, we couldn't just keep them there."
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Alan Shearer hits out at Alexander Isak over 'f------ mess' and tells him to fire his agent
Alan Shearer has urged Alexander Isak to sack his agent over his botched Newcastle United exit plan. The striker is desperate to move to Liverpool before the transfer window closes on September 1, but it now appears highly unlikely that the transfer will materialize, leaving Isak facing the prospect of either returning for the Magpies with his tail between his legs or sitting out until January at the earliest. Shearer said: "I mean, oh my God, what a f------ mess his agent has made of this, honestly," Shearer told Betfair. "If I was him, I'd get his agent in a room and sack him on the spot immediately, because he is meant to be giving him the advice to sign that six‑year deal and there's no get‑out clause. READ MORE: Alexander Isak could use little-known FIFA rule to force Newcastle transfer exit READ MORE: Liverpool transfer target revealed role in Caoimhin Kelleher exit amid Man Utd battle "I mean, it's ridiculous. And to take anyone's word in football… it's nonsensical to say that someone said, 'Oh, I'll be able to get out at the end of the season.' Really? I mean, come on." Isak and Newcastle exchanged statements on the situation on Wednesday — Isak went first, explaining his absence from the PFA awards night in Manchester as he accused Newcastle of "breaking promises" by standing in his way of an exit from the club. The North East outfit then hit back with a statement of its own, claiming the conditions of a summer sale have not been met. Shearer addressed Newcastle's statement and, unsurprisingly, came out in support of his boyhood club. "Newcastle have also released a statement saying that promises were not broken, or promises were never made. "I've always said there are two sides to every story, but my feelings are exactly the same: he (Isak) has gone about it in the wrong way. "I get that he might want to join a huge football club in Liverpool. I understand that, and I understand that they're regularly going to be competing for trophies. "But we also need to know, who promised him? What did they promise him? When did they promise him, if that is the case? Newcastle have totally denied that. "I'd also ask the question, who's advising him? He signed his six‑year contract without a release clause in it. That is his doing, that is his agent's doing. "Now, if they foresaw someone trying to get out early, then before they signed that they were in a really strong position. They should have had a get‑out clause in it. That would be my take on it. "Everything sort of boils down to: I think he's being given bad advice and the way he's going about it is wrong, I really do."
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texans' offense finding the 'right identity' ahead of preseason finale
As the Houston Texans enter the final days of training camp, C.J. Stroud has noticed a change in the offense. No, the five-man unit protecting him still has its faults and the pass rush can still win a drive in team drills, but for the most part, things are trending in the right direction ahead of Week 1's showdown against the Los Angeles Rams. 'I think we're clicking,' Stroud said after Saturday's 20-3 victory against the Carolina Panthers. 'We're not making the same mistakes we did earlier in camp. I think that's what you want to see at this point.' New offensive coordinator Nick Caley has won over the locker room, but more importantly, he's earned Stroud's trust. In two drives on Saturday, the offense found the ideal spark in the passing game behind Stroud's consistency calling the shots. After a quick three-and-out, Stroud and the offense began to move the ball with ease. A quick pickup from Christian Kirk gave Houston a new set of downs. That was followed by a 14-yard grab from rookie Jayden Higgins before a Nico Collins 6-yard touchdown reception ended the drive. 'I thought we were fairly efficient, physical, took care of the football, protected well. I was happy with that," Caley said on Tuesday. "I think it's something to build off of and we've just got to keep moving it from here.' During Tuesday's practice, it was more of the same. Stroud was perfect on the first drive, conneccting on passes to Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel set up the team for a potential field goal. On the second team drive, he scrambled and found Dalton Schultz down the sideline for a first down before converting multiple third and fourth downs in a two-minute drill. That's the version of the offense Texans fans are begging to see. It could be a reason why Houston doesn't just lean on the defense as the team's backbone This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans' offense finding the 'right identity' ahead of preseason finale
