St Mirren 1 Hearts 3

By Gavin McCafferty, PA Sport

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Hearts emerged from a difficult afternoon at Love Street with three points after substitute Andrius Velicka secured their third Clydesdale Bank Premier League victory.

Andrew Driver gave the Jambos the lead towards the end of a first half dominated by St Mirren, who had two strong penalty claims rejected before Michael Stewart converted from the spot at the other end.

Mark Corcoran headed the Buddies back into contention with 12 minutes left but Velicka soon put the game beyond them seconds after coming on.

Hearts started brightly when Christian Nade burst through the St Mirren defence straight from the kick-off and rounded goalkeeper Chris Smith but was forced too wide.

But the French striker was isolated for much of the first half with Calum Elliot left on the bench despite his double in Tuesday's CIS Cup victory over Dunfermline.

The home side recovered from their early scare to produce the better football of the opening half with Franco Miranda and Chris Birchall looking lively on either flank.

But they rarely troubled French goalkeeper Anthony Basso, who made his Hearts debut after Steve Banks was struck by food poisoning.

Basso saved comfortably when Billy Mehmet glanced Birchall's free-kick towards goal.

Saints had a better chance from a Miranda set-piece but Will Haining headed over from 12 yards after escaping his marker.

The Buddies had an excellent shout for a penalty when Eggert Jonsson appeared to bring down Stephen O'Donnell as he chased a long pass but referee John Underhill was unmoved.

And Hearts took the lead against the run of play in the 40th minute when Driver drilled home from 12 yards after Stewart's corner had found its way to the far side of the box.

Smith caught a Ksanavicius volley but Saints soon recovered from the shock of the opener, however, Miranda shot well over in space on the edge of the box.

Elliot came on for the second half in place of Ksanavicius and shot wide from 25 yards within a minute after linking well with Driver and Nade.

St Mirren were forced into a change in the 48th minute when centre-back Will Haining went off injured.

Without any defenders on the bench, Gus MacPherson brought on forward Stewart Kean and moved Miranda from left midfield to central defence.

The hosts put Hearts under pressure with a series of high balls and Birchall's header hit the raised hand of Jose Goncalves with Basso in trouble following Mehmet's back-post cross.

St Mirren only got a corner and they were soon caught on the counter attack when Driver broke clear and rounded Smith, but Saints got men back and he ran out of space.

However, the home side immediately shot themselves in the foot when David van Zanten failed to control Smith's risky throw-out and lost possession to Stewart.

The Hearts midfielder ran into the box and went down under the full-back's clumsy challenge and Underhill pointed to the spot.

Stewart converted the 56th-minute penalty and Hearts came close to a third after a brilliant run by Driver, whose cross just evaded Elliot.

Van Zanten almost made amends for his error when he slid in to meet Birchall's superb cross but the ball spun just over the bar.

Kean saw his powerful effort blocked after Basso had spilled a corner and Saints soon got their lifeline when substitute Corcoran beat Basso to another teasing Birchall cross and headed into the empty net.

However, Velicka dashed their comeback hopes seconds after coming on in the 83rd minute.

Driver released the Lithuanian with a clever pass down the left channel and he poked the ball inside Smith's near post from 12 yards.

Birchall had a shot deflected just wide after a strong run and Basso dropped Hugh Murray's header but Hearts cleared and held on to their lead.

Teams:

St Mirren Smith, van Zanten, McCay, Haining (Kean 48), Potter,Mason, Murray, O'Donnell (Corcoran 59), Miranda, Birchall,Mehmet (McGinn 69).

Subs Not Used: Howard, Brittain, Brady, Docherty.

Booked: Potter, McCay.

Goals: Corcoran 78.

Hearts Basso, Neilson, Goncalves, Berra, Tall, Kingston,Jonsson, Driver, Stewart (Zaliukas 90),Ksanavicius (Elliot 46), Nade (Velicka 82).

Subs Not Used: Kurskis, Palazuelos, Kancelskis, Ivaskevicius.

Booked: Ksanavicius, Stewart.

Goals: Driver 40, Stewart 56 pen, Velicka 83.

Att: 4,233

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com