By Gavin McCafferty, PA Sport

St Mirren stunned Hearts through Stewart Kean's late winner in a fiercely competitive Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Tynecastle.

Recalled Buddies keeper Tony Bullock produced a string of outstanding saves to deny Hearts, who also had several penalty appeals turned down.

Saints had their moments throughout the game but were under the cosh immediately before Kean scrambled home an 82nd-minute winner.

The visitors' hard-working approach forced Hearts to wait 12 minutes for their first chance, which Bullock saved brilliantly.

Neil McCann's left-wing cross was headed on by Roman Bednar and the ball fell for an unmarked Saulius Mikoliunas but his shot from eight yards was turned wide.

The Buddies keeper produced another top-class save from the resulting Paul Hartley corner when he tipped over Steven Pressley's header from a similar range.

Craig Gordon gifted Saints a shot at goal after getting caught out trying to dribble the ball out of the goalmouth, but Garry Brady sliced his first-time effort well clear.

Hearts were outraged when Mikoliunas appeared to be brought down by two defenders on the edge of the Saints box, but the Lithuanian was shown a yellow card by referee Dougie McDonald.

Kean had a great chance for Saints when John Sutton's knock-down fell for him eight yards out but Gordon brilliantly turned away his hooked shot on the turn.

Five minutes later, Hartley swung in a free-kick from the left, but Christophe Berra's backward header was a yard too high.

The hosts had a strong shout for a penalty waved away when Bednar went down in the box as Kirk Broadfoot appeared to have hold of his shirt as they went for a Takis Fyssas cross.

Bednar almost broke the deadlock just before the break when he rounded Bullock but John Potter got back to clear off the line.

Bullock produced a glorious save seconds later when he somehow kept out Berra's header from six yards with an outstretched hand.

Craig Molloy replaced Potter at half-time with Andy Millen moving back into the Saints defence.

Hearts had another penalty appeal refused within a minute of the restart when Jamie Mole fell in the box, but Kevin McGowne's challenge was more a slip than a foul.

Hartley curled a 25-yard free-kick towards goal but Bullock comfortably palmed it away in the 50th minute.

Sutton claimed he was pushed in the box by Pressley as he went for a Simon Lappin cross and soon helped work two decent chances which Brady shot well over.

Saints gained the upper hand for a spell as the home fans grew restless.

Molloy's deep cross in the 65th minute was volleyed towards goal by Lappin but Gordon caught it despite an awkward bounce.

Saints almost took the lead midway through the half when Sutton headed inches wide of the far post after doing well to get on the end of Lappin's left-wing cross.

McDonald waved away yet another penalty claim as Saints sub Richard Brittain's arm shaved the ball under intense pressure from Hartley.

The Scotland midfielder and Bednar both saw free-kicks blocked before substitute Mauricio Pinilla hit a fierce low effort from 25 yards that Bullock pushed wide.

Hearts replacement Andrius Velicka set up Bednar as the hosts regained the momentum but his strike deflected wide.

The lively Pinilla headed wide from Hartley's long free-kick and Velicka blasted over after a deep corner.

Saints were under the cosh, but worked a winner with seven minutes left.

Sutton released Molloy down the right and his low strike across goal was only palmed out by Gordon with Kean poised to slide the ball into the roof of the net.

Pinilla then set up Bednar but the unmarked Czech Republic striker shot over from 15 yards.

To compound Hearts' misery, Fyssas missed an even better chance in the final minute when he headed over from six yards.

Teams

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Berra, Fyssas,Mikoliunas (Beslija 84), Hartley, Brellier,McCann (Velicka 72), Mole (Pinilla 59), Bednar.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Wallace, Karipidis, Zaliukas.

Booked: Mikoliunas.

St Mirren Bullock, van Zanten, McGowne, Millen, Broadfoot,Brady (Brittain 67), Potter (Molloy 45), Murray, Lappin,Sutton, Kean (Mehmet 86).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Corcoran, McCay, McKenna.

Booked: van Zanten, Murray, Broadfoot, Mehmet.

Goals: Kean 82.

Att: 16,823

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com