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Hearts logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 19
Dec 23, 2023 at 3pm UK
Tynecastle Park
St Mirren logo

Hearts
2 - 0
St Mirren

Shankland (33', 49')
Atkinson (66'), Halkett (78')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Gogic (2'), Tanser (22'), Boyd-Munce (76')

Preview: Hearts vs. St Mirren - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash between Hearts and St Mirren, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Third faces fourth in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday when St Mirren make the trip to Hearts in a bid to overtake them in the league table.

Only goal difference is splitting these two sides at present, giving each team the chance to put some actual distance between the other with a victory this weekend.


Match preview

Hearts manager Steven Naismith reacts on October 29, 2023© Reuters

Hearts brought an end to their two-match losing streak in impressive fashion last weekend by being one of only two teams to defeat Celtic this season in the Scottish Premiership.

Goals from Lawrence Shankland and Stephen Kingsley in the first half proved to be enough on the day, while they impressively kept a clean sheet against the best-attacking team in the league.

It provided them with the goal difference to overtake St Mirren in the table, and the Jambos will be looking to cement their third-place position on Saturday.

While Hearts still trail second-placed Rangers by 14 points, the focus will be on putting on as much pressure as possible throughout the busy winter period.

However, Steven Naismith will want to see more attacking quality from his side, as no team in the top half has scored fewer than them.

St Mirren's Declan Gallagher with teammates talk to referee Nick Walsh after he awards a penalty to Rangers on October 8, 2022© Reuters

St Mirren were victorious against Hearts when the two teams met earlier this season, and repeating that feat would be welcomed considering it would allow them to leapfrog their opponents in the table.

The Buddies head into the fixture following a goalless draw against Motherwell, and with only two wins in their previous six league outings there is some work to be done from a consistency point of view.

One concern for St Mirren will be their form in away matches this season, as the club have only won two matches on the road in the Scottish Premiership.

Much like their opponents, the Buddies have struggled finding the back of the net on the road, and that will be something to focus on in this particular match.

However, considering they have scored in just one of their previous four matches, it is a situation that might require more long-term work.

Hearts Scottish Premiership form:

St Mirren Scottish Premiership form:


Team News

Motherwell boss Steve Robinson pictured in November 2019© Reuters

Hearts made four changes to the starting lineup against Celtic, and considering the positive result Jorge Grant, Nathaniel Atkinson, Alan Forrest and Aidan Denholm all will be in consideration to retain their places.

Cammy Devlin and Liam Boyce are injury concerns for the Jambos, though, and it is expected that neither man will be back for this one.

After failing to find the back of the net against Motherwell there could be some attacking changes made this weekend for St Mirren, with Alex Grieve and Mikael Mandron being under consideration.

The visitors do have several injury concerns though as Ryan Strain and Ryan Flynn are dealing with muscle problems, while Caolan Boyd-Munce was also out of action last weekend.


Hearts possible starting lineup:
Clark; Kingsley, Kent, Rowles; Grant, Atkinson, Baningime, Denholm, Cochrane; Forrest, Shankland

St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Hemming; Gogic, Taylor, Fraser; Small, Baccus, O'Hara, Kiltie, Grieve; Ayunga, Nachmani


SM words green background

We say: Hearts 0-0 St Mirren

With little to split these two teams in the league, it will likely be a cagey fixture on Saturday with neither wanting to give too much away.

Considering the lack of goals that they tend to score, a goalless draw could be the way this game unfolds.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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Written by
Matthew Wilkinson

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Game History

How you voted: Hearts vs St Mirren

Hearts
83.3%
Draw
16.7%
St Mirren
0.0%
6
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1514104444043
2Aberdeen16104230181234
3RangersRangers1510232791832
4Motherwell178272327-426
5Dundee UnitedDundee Utd166642519624
6St Mirren176382228-621
7Dundee165472729-219
8Kilmarnock184681935-1618
9Hibernian173682129-815
10Ross County173681333-2015
11St Johnstone1742112032-1214
12Hearts1734101826-813


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