The young Irishman scored his superb set-piece just before half time and you'd have expected Saints to go on and build from there after a dull first half. However, within 90 seconds of the second half starting, Marius Zaliukas thumped the home equaliser, paving the way for plenty more goals in the remaining 43 minutes. Sadly, despite some decent chances, no more arrived, leaving us with a result that suited neither side.
As expected, Graham Carey replaced Steven Robb while injury to Craig Dargo meant Michael Higdon and Billy Mehmet started up front. Garry Brady also dropped out as Chris Innes returned from injury, meaning there was a switch to a 3-5-2 formation. The lively Andrew Driver started for Hearts in place of Laryea Kingston, with the equally dangerous Suso on the other side. Once again, Saints only had six subs.
Te opening quarter of the game was relatively dull, with little in the way of goalmouth action to get excited about. A foul on Graham Carey by David Obua gave the on-loan Celtic man a free-kick that Jamie MacDonald had to turn behind, before Hugh Murray shot wide from the following free-kick. At the other end, Obua missed the target with a header from an Andrew Driver corner.
Hearts were looking the more likely to score and had a good chance when Innes failed to meet a Jason Thomson cross and left Gary Glen free behind him, but the young striker shot into the stand. Another Carey free-kick, this time after he'd been fouled by Thomson, almost produced the opener, but his fierce was brilliantly turned behind by MacDonald.
Next time, the keeper wasn't quite so lucky. After Higdon was fouled by Eggert Jonsson about 35 yards from goal, Carey strode onto the free-kick and a fired an absolute rocket of a shot into the top corner, leaving MacDonald with absolutely no chance. This boy has to be signed up for next season, whether it's on loan or a permanent deal. If nothing else, his free-kick ability is sensational - he's scored more in two months than the rest of our team has in four years!
Sadly, the least lasted less than two minutes into the second half. Suso collected the ball from a corner and a slip from Carey gave him all the time he needed to get to the byline and cross and Marius Zaliukas sent a thumping header past Gallacher. John Potter almost scored an own goal as Hearts took a huge lift from their equaliser, but Higdon almost managed to foce an equaliser at the other end when he stole the ball from Lee Wallace and charged towards the edge of the box. His duff shot turned into a great pass to Mehmet, who fed Thomson, but he delayed his shot too long and it was deflected wide.
Things were getting more exciting now and Suso, who was being booed following some play acting, set up Obua and his powerrful shot stung the palms of Gallacher. Hearts were looking the more likely to score as the game entered the final stages and sub Craig Thomson left fly with a shot that Gallacher had to look sharp to keep out.
We finally made a change with just eight minutes left and it was an enforced one due to cramp to Mehmet, meaning Rory Loy finally got himself a chance. Is it part of his loan deal that he's only allowed to play a maximum of 10 minutes a week? Another change came moments later when Stephen O'Donnell replaced Jack Ross and you really have to wonder what our aim was for this game. If we were going for the win, which we desperately needed due to Falkirk winning, why on earth did we not make the changes sooner?
The introduction of Loy nearly paid dividends as in stoppage time he pounced on a loose pass before feeding Higdon. He seemed to take ages to make his way into space and eventually had ashot that MacDonald tipped behind. After the corner was dealt with Hearts immediately attacked and Gallacher did superbly to keep out a header from sub Calum Elliot and earn Saints a draw.
We desperately needed the win, especially after Falkirk beating Motherwell, but once again we squandered the chance to take victory after scoring first. We quite simply can't go on like this, and we absolutely have to leave Westfield with three points next week.