Saints see off the Jambos

Sep 27 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

DEREK McInnes was as fed-up as any St Johnstone supporter with last season's meagre goals return.

So he embarked on a summer recruitment campaign designed to pep-up the firepower at his disposal.

And now his very own crack SAS team is pursuing a "Who Dares Wins" philosophy.

It's early days for the partnership but Cillian Sheridan and Fran Sandaza are being touted among the most lethal duos in the SPL by wary opposition defenders.

Spanish striker Sandaza has been capturing the headlines so far this term but it was Sheridan who stepped into the spotlight as Saints swatted aside Hearts to claim their first home win of the season, and edge back into the top six.

Sandaza teed-up both strikes but ever present Sheridan produced the lethal finishing touch which hallmarked much of his previous loan spell at Perth.

The Irishman's downright bizarre "planking" celebration bewildered onlookers, prompting initial fears that he had done himself a nasty as he sprawled face down on the turf.

It isn’t Mo-vember so colleagues reckon a hirsute upper lip doesn't cut it in the style stakes. But they insist the lucky charm has to stay now that the goals have begun to flow.

It’s all very strange. Maybe it's something in the water at McDiarmid Park. Even groundsman Chris Smith, denied turf to trim for much of last season, has taken to mowing the lush field of dreams like some latter day Picasso or Miro.

There was certainly no lack of flair on show on Sunday, albeit that the ESPN enforced noon kick-off restricted the audience to less than 3000, which must be a serious source of concern to clubs and the SPL.

The vast majority of the style was credited to St Johnstone, with a Hearts side showing nine changes from the side which crashed out of the League Cup at Ayr unable to make headway against a defence marshalled by David McCracken, drafted-in for injured Frazer Wright.

The win hauled Saints level in fourth spot with the Jambos and St Mirren, with scope for going it alone afforded by tomorrow's trip to face Hibs at Easter Road.

The opening goal was crafted nicely and gloriously executed by Sheridan, a Republic of Ireland international with a Champions League pedigree on loan until the New Year from Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia. His arrival at McDiarmid was late but McInnes knew what he was getting, with six goals in 16 league games last time round.

Sandaza's guile paved the way to the 19th minute strike. Dave Mackay's pass was shuttled on swiftly by the Spaniard, releasing Sheridan on the gallop in behind a bemused Hearts defence looking in vain for an offside flag.

The keeper advanced to narrow the angle but Sheridan confidently caught it early and the ball exploded high into the net from 16 yards.

His second, 10 minutes into the second-half, was also created by Sandaza, who had foraged and pirated the ball from Hamill after Sheridan rose to flick on an Enckelman punt. Again he spotted his partner and the pass was perfect, enticing Sheridan to stride past the keeper and plant the ball into the empty net.

Perth fans starved of goals last term rejoiced, and upped the level of mockery aimed at Danny Grainger, who left for Gorgie over the summer.

The win was no less than Saints deserved, with the return of Kevin Moon providing the balance absent against St Mirren days earlier.

After Chris Millar fired inches wide from 25 yards, Liam Craig warmed the fingertips of McDonald and the midfielder's right foot let him down soon after the opener, with a connection on Sheridan's pass bobbling wide from 12 yards.

Hearts, with ex-Saint Ryan Stevenson up front, rarely hinted at a dramatic comeback, although a largely untroubled Enckelman had to atone for fumbling a Taouil shot by diverting Stevenson's instinctive flick on a Templeton snapshot, and in the final seconds he held a Stevenson volley.

SAINTS: Enckelman, Maybury, Craig, Moon, Anderson, McCracken, Millar, Mackay, Sheridan, Sandaza (Haber 84) and Gibson (Robertson 73). Subs not used: Mannus, Higgins, Durnan, May and McIntosh.

HEARTS: McDonald, Hamill, Grainger, Webster (Templeton 46), Black, Elliott (Robinson 72), Obua (Smith 63), Stevenson, Taouil, Zaliukas and Mrowiec. Subs not used: Balogh, Novikovas, Jonsson and Skacel.

REFEREE: Steve O'Reilly.