St Mirren 1-3 Hearts

Goals from Andrew Driver, Michael Stewart and Andrius Velicka gave Hearts victory against a luckless St Mirren.

Driver gave the Edinburgh side the lead against the run of play in 40 minutes with a low drive from inside the box.

Stewart doubled Hearts' lead from the spot and Mark Corcoran reduced the deficit, before Velicka grabbed a third to seal the win.

The hosts were denied a penalty in the first-half when Eggert Jonsson appeared to foul Stephen O'Donnell.

French goalkeeper Anthony Basso made his Hearts debut at Love Street after Steve Banks was struck down by food poisoning.

There was no room for Calum Elliot despite his double in Tuesday's CIS Cup victory over Dunfermline.

Hearts made four changes with Driver returning from injury and Ibrahim Tall and Audrius Ksanavicius also coming in.

Tomas Kancelskis and Kestutis Ivaskevicius dropped to the bench alongside Elliot.

St Mirren recalled Franco Miranda after suspension with Alan Reid making way at left-back.

The hosts looked the more likely to score in a first half with plenty of endeavour but little in the way of skilful play.

St Mirren appealed for a penalty when Jonsson appeared to bring down O'Donnell but referee John Underhill waved away the appeals.

Driver gave Hearts the lead five minutes before the break when Michael Stewart's corner broke to him on the right-hand side of the penalty area and his flashing drive found the net.

The Edinburgh side pressed for a second goal before half-time and Ksanavicius forced Smith into a smart save after the Lithuanian volleyed Robbie Neilson's lay-off.

St Mirren's fans were further enraged 10 minutes into the second half when Stewart tumbled under David Van Zanten's challenge and the referee pointed to the spot.

Stewart took the penalty himself and doubled Hearts' lead.

St Mirren pushed to reduce the deficit but lacked a cutting edge in and around the box.

Van Zanten missed a glorious chance to score after 75 minutes when he blazed over from a couple of yards.

But the hosts set up a tense finish when Corcoran's bullet header from Chris Birchall's cross flashed past Hearts keeper Basso.

St Mirren's hopes of salvaging a point faded with seven minutes to go when Velicka beat keeper Chris Smith with a low shot from inside the box to seal the points for Hearts.

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 Underhil

Taken from the BBC