Hearts bound Josh McPake puts in Man of the Match performance in dramatic top of the table Championship clash
A penalty in the fifth minute of injury time rescued a point for Partick Thistle away to St Johnstone as first face second in the Scottish Championship.
Josh McPake was awarded man of the match as the Hearts bound winger scored what looked like being the winning goal in the top of the table Scottish Championship clash between St Johnstone and Partick Thistle on Friday night.
However, a penalty kick in the fifth minute of added on time was converted by Oisin Smyth to make the final score 2-2 and rescue a point for the second placed Jags. That ensured the hosts didn’t open up a five point gap at the top of the league table with Saints retaining a two point advantage with a game in hand.
Smyth had opened the scoring in the 42nd minute to send Thistle into the break with a 1-0 lead but Falkirk loanee Alfredo Agyeman leveld early in the second half. McPake, who has agreed a pre-contract with Hearts and will join the Jambos in the summer, netted in the 66th minute with a fine strike from the edge of the box that was low and into the bottom corner.
Hearts bound Josh McPake puts in Man of the Match performance as Jambos loanee also solid
The match was live on the BBC Scotland channel with former Scotland international James McFadden awarding Man of the Match to McPake. However, that call came before the late drama of the penalty kick with suggestions that Smyth’s double on the night made him a contender for top performer.
Hearts full back Adam Forrester, who is on loan at the Perth club, played the full match and put in a solid performance. The 20-year old, who is at McDiarmid Park as part of the cooperation agreement between the two clubs, picked up a yellow card in the 55th minute.
Both teams put on a decent show on the night despite difficult conditions. Heavy rain throughout the week and on the night had left the pitch in less than ideal conditions.
McPake wants to do best for promotion chasing St Johnstone before joining Hearts in summer
Speaking after the match, McPake said: “It stings, it does, but this game doesn't define our season. I thought we'd done really well to get ourselves back into it and obviously I got the goal and you think it's done but that's football at the end of the day and that's this league but at the end of the day this doesn't define our season this game.
“I think the pitch was caught up a wee bit so I was tying all half to try and get in it but it kept balling up and I managed to take a couple of good touches and when I'm in there I back myself to finish it so yeah, it was a good goal, I'll give myself that.
“I think I want to do the best for myself obviously and for the club. The club has put a lot of trust in me so the next three, four months of the season I want to give it my all and see how high I can go.”