On a frigid January night at Tynecastle, Heart of Midlothian delivered a performance that will have their supporters dreaming of silverware, overcoming adversity and a determined St Mirren side to secure a 2-0 victory in the Scottish Premiership. With the win on January 14, 2026, the Jambos restored their six-point cushion atop the league, fending off the chasing pack of Rangers and Celtic and sending a powerful message to their title rivals.
But it wasn’t just the scoreline that had the Gorgie faithful singing well into the Edinburgh night. The character on display from Derek McInnes’s men was nothing short of remarkable. Hearts were forced to play with 10 men for more than 75 minutes, after Beni Baningime was sent off for a reckless, studs-up challenge on Roland Idowu just 14 minutes into the contest. The midfielder, initially shown a yellow, saw his fate sealed after referee Kevin Clancy consulted VAR and upgraded the booking to a red—a decision few could argue with, even if it left the home crowd momentarily stunned.
“We dug Benny out of a hole tonight, the players. We spoke about that at half-time. The boy was in tears,” McInnes revealed to Sky Sports after the final whistle. “When we needed a big performance, we delivered it. We just need to keep going. We’ve got a long way to go and there’s so many points, but we’re in a strong position. There’s no two ways about it.”
Hearts’ starting lineup featured goalkeeper Craig Gordon—making his first start of the season in place of the suspended Alexander Schwolow—defenders Steinwender, Halkett, Findlay, and Milne, with Baningime, Devlin, Kyziridis, and Spittal in midfield, and Braga and Shankland leading the line. The bench provided plenty of options, including Kent, McCart, Magnusson, and Altena, a testament to the squad depth McInnes has built for a grueling schedule of three games in seven days.
St Mirren, meanwhile, arrived at Tynecastle with their own ambitions but missing key players, prompting a defensive setup. Their starting eleven included George in goal, with Fraser, King, and Freckleton at the back, and attacking threats like Idowu and Mandron up front. The Buddies had suffered a dip in form, coming into the match with no wins in their previous five outings and just one goal scored in that span.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Hearts refused to yield. The early setback seemed to rattle them momentarily—Idowu had the ball in the net twice, only to see both goals ruled out for offside, the first a curling beauty in the 21st minute that left Gordon rooted. But as the first half wore on, the hosts regained their composure, creating chances of their own. Kyziridis and Braga both went close, with St Mirren’s Shamal George called into action to keep the scores level at the break.
Hearts started the second half with renewed purpose. The crowd of 18,410, braving the cold, roared every tackle and clearance, pushing their team on. The breakthrough arrived on the hour mark. Blair Spittal, who had been lively all evening, burst down the right and delivered a low cutback into the box. Captain Lawrence Shankland, always alert, lost his marker and slotted home coolly, sending Tynecastle into raptures. “The 10 men, sensing an opportunity to pull off a huge victory in the title race, got themselves in front on the hour,” reported Sky Sports, capturing the drama of the moment.
With the lead secure but the pressure mounting, McInnes responded by shoring up the defense. Jamie McCart and Frankie Kent joined Halkett and Findlay at the back, while the likes of Magnusson and Altena provided fresh legs. St Mirren threw everything forward, peppering the Hearts box with crosses, but the home side’s resolve held firm. Craig Halkett, in particular, was immense—outjumping Saints’ attackers and throwing his body in front of shots to preserve the advantage.
The clincher arrived in the 80th minute. After Milne’s shot was parried by George, substitute Tomas Magnusson was quickest to react, nodding the rebound into an empty net. The celebrations were wild, the sense of relief palpable. Hearts had survived St Mirren’s onslaught and, against the odds, doubled their lead. “Substitute Magnusson popped up to head home after George had blocked Harry Milne’s drive,” noted the match report, highlighting the impact from the bench.
For St Mirren, the night was one of frustration. Idowu, who had endured Baningime’s challenge and twice thought he’d opened the scoring, was left ruing his luck. The Buddies’ lack of a clinical edge in front of goal was evident, and the absence of influential skipper Mark O’Hara in midfield was keenly felt. Despite dominating possession after the red card, Stephen Robinson’s side couldn’t find a way past a Hearts defense that refused to break.
Beyond the immediate result, the match carried broader implications. With Rangers and Celtic both lurking just six points behind and the latter due at Tynecastle next week, every point is precious in the title race. McInnes, facing a congested fixture list and ongoing injury and suspension concerns, was forced into four changes from the side that beat Dundee just days earlier. Yet the adaptability and depth of the squad shone through. Tactical tweaks—like pushing Altena forward or deploying Magnusson in midfield—gave Hearts the flexibility to respond to the game’s shifting tides.
Off the pitch, transfer intrigue swirled as well. Hearts had announced a pre-contract deal with Ugandan international Rogers Mato, though his current club FK Vardar claimed to have accepted a bid from Sporting Kansas City. McInnes, for his part, remained confident: “He’s signed the pre-contract. The boy’s itching to come. I think he was maybe under a lot of pressure to maybe look elsewhere, but he stuck to his word. We’re excited to get him with us and delighted he showed that commitment to us.” Whether Mato joins in January remains to be seen, but the sense of momentum around Tynecastle is unmistakable.
As the final whistle blew, the chant of “We Shall Not Be Moved” echoed around the stadium—a fitting soundtrack to a night when Hearts proved their mettle beyond any doubt. With a six-point lead and the title race heating up, the Jambos have shown they possess not just skill, but the heart and spirit to go the distance. The road ahead is long, but after a night like this, belief runs deep in Gorgie.
