Freckleton’s Late Header Sinks Hearts As St Mirren Triumph

Tuesday night at the SMISA Stadium in Paisley was always going to be a stern test for Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, but few could have predicted just how dramatic the contest with St Mirren would become. Riding high at the summit, six points clear and brimming with confidence after four wins in their last five, Derek McInnes’ side arrived with a chance to stretch their lead even further. Yet football, as ever, had other plans.

St Mirren, winless in their previous seven league outings, faced the daunting challenge with a depleted squad. Injuries had sidelined Jonah Ayunga, Keanu Baccus, and Mark O'Hara, while Jake Young watched from the stands after his red card appeal was dismissed. Manager Stephen Robinson, under pressure as his side flirted with the relegation play-off zone, was forced to shuffle his pack, introducing Manchester United Under-21 loanee Jacob Devaney for his first start less than a day after arriving from Old Trafford.

Hearts, meanwhile, were missing their own key men. Top scorer Lawrence Shankland remained out with a hamstring problem, joined on the injury list by Calem Nieuwenhof, Cameron Devlin, Finlay Pollock, and Stephen Kingsley. Pierre Landry Kabore, fresh from a brace against Dundee United, continued to lead the line, with Marc Leonard impressing in midfield since his loan arrival from Birmingham City.

The opening exchanges set the tone for what would become a frenetic and fiercely contested encounter. St Mirren looked the brighter of the two, pressing high and creating early chances. Alex Gogic sent a header looping over the bar, while Hearts’ Kyziridis saw his shot deflected harmlessly into Shamal George’s gloves. The Buddies’ intent was clear: they were not about to roll over for the league leaders.

It wasn’t long before the home side began to carve out real opportunities. Mikael Mandron forced Alex Schwolow into a sharp save, the German keeper diving low to palm away a side-footed effort destined for the far corner. Moments later, Gogic met a free-kick with a firm header that crashed off the post, and Marcus Fraser nodded in the rebound, only for the assistant’s flag to rule the goal out for offside. The Paisley crowd groaned in frustration, but their team’s dominance was unmistakable.

Then, in the 30th minute, the match turned on its head. Hearts’ Stuart Findlay, under pressure from Mandron, lost his footing, allowing Devaney to pounce. As the young loanee surged toward goal, Craig Halkett lunged in, bringing him down just outside the box. Referee Steven McLean had no hesitation: a straight red card for the Hearts captain, reducing the visitors to ten men for the third time in six league games. “Steven McLean got it spot on as he dismissed Halkett for his last man challenge on Devaney,” observed one report, highlighting the referee’s decisive intervention.

St Mirren sensed blood. Declan John’s resulting free-kick curled inches wide of the post, and the Buddies continued to pepper Schwolow’s goal. Another flashpoint arrived just before halftime when Harry Milne’s foul on Jayden Richardson saw McLean point to the spot, only for VAR—helmed by John Beaton—to overturn the penalty, ruling the challenge occurred outside the box. Hearts, battered and bruised, somehow reached the break with the score still level.

“Hearts had endured a first-half of their nightmares,” one summary put it. “Outfought all over the pitch, toothless in attack and calamitous at the back.” Yet, despite being down a man and under relentless pressure, the Jambos clung on, hoping to escape Paisley with a precious point.

The second half saw Hearts regroup, tightening up defensively and looking to hit St Mirren on the break. Still, the home side continued to create, with Mandron once again denied by a superb Schwolow save—one that drew comparisons to Craig Gordon’s heroics at Dundee just weeks before. Hearts, for all their resilience, offered little going forward. Kabore and Braga struggled to make an impact, and as the minutes ticked down, it seemed McInnes’ men might just survive.

But fate was not on their side. With just three minutes remaining, Declan John whipped in a corner to the near post. Rising above a crowd of bodies, Miguel Freckleton powered his header past Schwolow and into the net. The SMISA Stadium erupted. After seven winless matches, St Mirren had their moment of redemption. “It looked like Hearts had survived what the hosts had to throw at them, but that is surely the winner now,” noted a live match blog, capturing the sense of inevitability as the Buddies celebrated.

The final whistle confirmed a famous 1-0 victory for St Mirren—a result that not only ended their miserable run but also propelled them seven points clear of the relegation play-off spot, lifting them to ninth in the table. For Hearts, it was a bitter pill to swallow: their third defeat of the season, and one that left their title hopes suddenly vulnerable. With Celtic and Rangers both set to play on Wednesday, the gap at the top could shrink to just three points, piling the pressure back onto McInnes’ squad.

Player ratings reflected the story of the night. For St Mirren, Devaney shone on his debut, earning an 8, while Freckleton’s heroics secured him a 7. Hearts’ Schwolow was their standout, his string of saves keeping the score respectable, but the rest of the team struggled, with Halkett’s red card a glaring lowlight.

Post-match, attention turned to the implications for both sides. Hearts will now be without Halkett for the upcoming Edinburgh derby, a crucial fixture as the title race heats up. McInnes, reflecting on the defeat and recent transfer window activity, admitted, “Ideally, we'd maybe have gone for a bigger striker with a different profile. Those are difficult to get and we hit the bar with a couple of targets which ran away from us.” The manager’s frustration was palpable, especially after missing out on retaining young prospect James Wilson, who joined Tottenham on deadline day.

For St Mirren, the victory was a welcome relief. Alex Gogic, speaking before the match, had said, “We need to look at the positives… There’s no doubt Hearts is a big, big game.” His team certainly rose to the occasion, displaying grit and determination throughout.

As the dust settles in Paisley, the Scottish Premiership title race is wide open once again. Hearts, so dominant in recent weeks, now face a true test of their mettle, with both Old Firm giants closing in. St Mirren, reinvigorated by a long-awaited win, can look up the table with renewed hope. Tuesday night delivered drama, controversy, and, above all, a reminder that in football, nothing is ever certain.