Stewart nets the win as Hearts carry on run

Hearts extended their run to six games unbeaten in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with a hard fought 1-0 victory over St Mirren at Tynecastle.

Csaba Laszlo made five changes to the side that faced Aberdeen the previous week in the Active Nation Scottish Cup. Jason Thomson, Ruben Palazuelos, David Obua, Christian Nade, and David Templeton were all restored to the starting line up.

The Jambos made a lively start to the match with Christian Nade in particular at the heart of the action. After some determined play down the right, he linked up well with David Templeton, whose header was eventually well shy of goal. Just minutes after that Templeton launched an effort from 20 yards out which seem destined to nestle in the back of the net, but for a last ditch save from Paul Gallacher.

Hearts hit the front after 22 minutes from the penalty mark. A hand ball from Hugh Murray allowed Michael Stewart to put the Jambos ahead, scoring his eighth goal of the season and sixth from the penalty spot. The skipper calmly drilled the ball low past Gallacher and wheeled away to celebrate.

Scott Robinson and David Templeton were both having solid performances and on more than one occasion linked up well. Robinson in particular chased every ball. Obua had the only other effort of note in the first half; the Ugandan's shot just outside the box ended up drifting wide.

No changes at half-time and Hearts again started the half the brighter of the two sides. Marius Zaliukas played a quick one-two with Christian Nade which sent the Lithuanian clean through on goal; unfortunately Gallacher was able to save the shot.

Robinson and Templeton's partnership nearly came to fruition after 65 minutes when the pair's devastating pace saw defence turned into attack from a St Mirren corner. Robinson led the charge before timing a perfect pass to Templeton on the right. This allowed him to send a thunderous shot at Gallacher who spilled the ball, but Robinson was not able to get on the end of the parry to net the goal the sizzling phase of play deserved.

St Mirren started to push Hearts hard in search of the equaliser and Mehmet came closest with a glancing header. The visitors had a lot of possession in the Hearts box but Marian Kello and the Hearts defence had the measure of the St Mirren strikeforce. In the end they could not muster a shot on target and the men in maroon had three more points.

Hearts: Kello; J Thomson, Bouzid, Zaliukas (Black 86), Palazuelos; Templeton (Suso 90), Stewart, Jonsson, Obua; Robinson (Smith 78), Nade. Subs not used: Balogh, Visconte, R Wallace, Mulrooney.

St Mirren: Gallacher; Ross, Potter, Innes, Barron (Johnston 85), Murray (Robb 85), Dorman Thomson, O'Donnell (Higdon 70); Dargo, Mehmet. Subs not used: Howard, Burns, Devlin, Ramsay.

Referee: Stevie O'Reilly

Top man: Scott Robinson

Hearts World