Source: Team_Talk
Managers content with point apiece
oth managers felt the result was a fair reflection of the game after St Mirren and Hearts battled out a 1-1 draw in the SPL on Saturday.[LNB] On-loan Celtic midfielder Graham Carey netted a magnificent free-kick to put St Mirren ahead two minutes before the break, only to see it cancelled out by a Marius Zaliukas header straight after the restart.[LNB]The draw left the third-bottom Paisley outfit three points ahead of bottom side Falkirk ahead of the teams' crucial meeting on Saturday, while Hearts moved three points in front of St Johnstone, who play Dundee United on Monday, in the race for the final top-six place.[LNB]Hearts manager Jim Jefferies said: "Carey's delivery is exceptional and no goalkeeper's going to save that.[LNB]"I was angry it was a free-kick - [referee] Iain Brines said he saw something but Marius Zaliukas was up so high to win that header; it was fitting that he got the equaliser as he was outstanding today.[LNB]"There weren't a lot of great chances on either side in the first half so I thought it was a bit harsh that we came in 1-0 down as probably 0-0 was a fairer reflection on that first half.[LNB]"When you're 1-0 down to a team fighting for their lives you've got to pick yourself up; we couldn't just accept that and feel sorry for ourselves as this was a game we had to get at least something out of but wanted to win.[LNB]"Getting the early goal [after the break] gave us the spur to go on and we played better in the second half, and we we could have broken away and sneaked it at the end but there was a great save from Calum Elliot at the back post.[LNB]"It was probably was a fair result, and it just makes it a little tighter, so we'll see how that result will pan out and how important the point was on Monday - whose hands the top-six place is in we don't know until that game's played.[LNB]"It was in our hands to win the two games and there was nothing St Johnstone could do. We've slipped up today but everybody knew this was a hard game away from home.[LNB]"St Mirren aren't an easy team to play against but we coped with it and that gives us another point so we just have to wait and see how it turns out."[LNB]Jefferies was without Laryea Kingston due to flu symptoms and added of Ian Black, who was eventually substituted after being taken off following a clash of heads: "He had to swerve his car on Friday and jerked his back.[LNB]"While he was getting stitches, his back started to tighten. But he did well and worked hard while on the park and I'm sure it will clear up in time for the next game."[LNB]St Mirren counterpart Gus MacPherson - who also had injury issues, naming only six substitutes - felt that the outcome was a fair reflection of the game and reckons his players will take confidence from it ahead of the crucial match at Falkirk.[LNB]The home manager said: "There weren't many clear-cut chances in the first half and it was a wonder strike from Graham that gave us the lead.[LNB]"You can see when he picks up the ball in the final third that there's an excitement from the crowd that something may happen.[LNB]"He's more than capable with his delivery from set-pieces and he's done that already this season, against Allan McGregor.[LNB]"We stressed the importance of starting the second half well, but Hearts got the goal in that very early period and it could have gone either way as the game went from end to end with both teams trying to get the winner.[LNB]"Both goalkeepers were called into action to make saves, which is the frustrating side when there are a couple of chances to be had.[LNB]"Points are crucial at this stage and I think we showed that there's a confidence and work ethic among the players, and we'll need that next week."[LNB]He added that Craig Dargo and Steven Robb were missing from the squad due to respective thigh and hamstring strains, saying: "We've had injuries for some time - that's just the size of squad we have to work with."
