MANAGER HAS HIS FINGERS CROSSED FOR DANNY

Derek McInnes was content with yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Hearts at Tynecastle but is now contemplating tackling Aberdeen in the next game with key defenders unavailable.

After his second half red card, Steven Anderson will automatically sit out the game against the Dons who will come to Perth in buoyant mood following their opening day 4-0 win over Hamilton and Danny Grainger looks likely to miss the game having picked up a knee injury in Edinburgh.

In the wake of the 1-1 draw, Del told the Saints Official Website: “We’ll know better about Danny in the next 48 hours but the swelling on his knee is dramatic and we have to hope that it is superficial and caused by the impact of the collision rather than it being any serious damage to the lateral ligament.”

The Manager had less sympathy for Steven Anderson, who, he pointed out, is now experienced enough to avoid un-necessary tackles like the one which led to his dismissal by referee Stevie O’Reilly. The Perth boss said Anderson made a “poor decision”.

On the game itself, Derek was happier all round and said: “We came to win but would have taken a point beforehand, especially in the circumstances.

“The work rate and organisation were excellent as was the intelligence shown once we went down to ten men. Hearts are a tougher proposition this season and will make a lot of teams uncomfortable at Tynecastle and we were certainly that for spells.

“I felt we passed over possession too easily in the first half but Cleveland Taylor got into areas where he could produce something and he did so for Sam Parkin who was where we want him to be – in the box scoring goals.”

PHOTO: Danny Grainger is stretchered off at Tynecastle yesterday