Key Points
- St Mirren defeated Heart of Midlothian 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership at the SMiSA Stadium on 3 February 2026.
- Hearts captain Craig Halkett received a red card in the 29th minute for a professional foul.
- Miguel Freckleton scored the winning goal for St Mirren in the 88th minute.
- Hearts, the league leaders with 54 points from 25 games, suffered their first loss after playing with ten men.
- The match took place at 8:00pm on Tuesday, with St Mirren moving to 23 points.
Paisley (Edinburgh Daily News) February 4, 2026 – St Mirren claimed a dramatic 1-0 victory over Scottish Premiership leaders Heart of Midlothian after Hearts were reduced to ten men early in the match.
Craig Halkett, Hearts’ captain, was sent off in the 29th minute for a professional foul, leaving his side to defend their lead position under pressure at the SMiSA Stadium. Miguel Freckleton’s late goal in the 88th minute sealed the points for the hosts, according to reports from Sky Sports and ESPN.
What led to Hearts’ downfall?
Hearts entered the game as table-toppers with 16 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses from 25 matches, holding a 54-point tally and a +27 goal difference. St Mirren, sitting lower with 23 points, capitalised on the numerical advantage after Halkett’s dismissal, as detailed in match summaries from ESPN and Sofascore.
According to Sky Sports, the visitors managed to hold firm until late, but Freckleton’s strike proved decisive in a tense encounter marked by several substitutions and a cancelled penalty for St Mirren at half-time.
How did the match unfold?
The game remained goalless at half-time despite Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow facing pressure, with St Mirren’s James Richardson seeing a penalty decision overturned. Post-interval changes included Hearts bringing on Kwadwo Etete and others, while St Mirren introduced substitutes like Devaney and Mandron, per lineups and timelines from Sky Sports and Flashscore.
Who were the key performers?
Freckleton emerged as the match-winner with his 88th-minute goal, while Halkett’s red card shifted momentum. St Mirren’s defence, featuring players like Scott George in goal and defenders King and John, held strong, as covered by ESPN’s game summary and Sofascore ratings.
What are the league implications?
This result narrows the gap at the top, with Hearts now on 54 points from 25 games, while Celtic and Rangers trail on 48 points each from 24 matches. St Mirren climb to 23 points, boosting their mid-table position ahead of the split, according to updated standings from ESPN.
Upcoming fixtures will test Hearts’ resilience without Halkett, as the Premiership race intensifies towards European qualification spots.
