Skacel sensation as Hearts ease past St Mirren

Hearts ran out 3-0 winners at Tynecastle after a Rudi Skacel hat-rick gave the Jambos their first home win of the season.

Manager Jim Jefferies decided to stick with the same team that took all three points from Pittodrie last week, for the visit of St Mirren to Tynecastle.

The Jambos made the best possible start to the match with Rudi Skacel netting his second of the season. The Czech dynamo zipped his shot low into the right hand corner past the helpless Craig Samson.

Hearts were keen to add to their lead and capitalise on the early goal and played some good football on the way. Calum Elliot and Kevin Kyle linked up well to carve out chances and Suso Santana was trying everything to grab the second goal.

It was to be man of the moment Rudi Skacel who would bag the second and in spectacular fashion. Calum Elliot was fouled around 20 yards from goal and up stepped Skacel to curl a sublime ball into the left hand corner. Excellent technique from Skacel deservedly putting Hearts two goals to the good.

As the half continued Hearts looked to put the game beyond St Mirren, Kevin Kyle nearly scored the third, with a thundering header that dipped just over the bar. Some neat play from Marius Zaliukas at the back allowed the captain to stride up the park and pick his pass to Skacel. As Skacel wound up for his shot it looked certain that he would get his hat-rick, but his shot thundered off the bar.

When the half time whistle blew there was an air of disappointment at Tynecastle as Hearts had played some excellent football in the first half.

After the break Hearts came out ready to continue the quest for the third goal. Calum Elliot was particularly involved as he looked to get himself on the score sheet for the first time since the away trip to Inverness in September.

St Mirren offered more in attack in the second half and both Adrian Mrowiec and Marius Zaliukas were called on to keep the Buddies from coming back into the match.

As the game moved into the final stages both teams became slightly flat. The Jmabos were defending well and still creating chances, but the two goal lead just seemed out of reach for St Mirren. Hearts took the opportunity to give Stephen Elliott, David Templeton and Ian Black a chance to get in on the action.

Paul McGowan had the best chance of note fro St Mirren with a shot from about 25 yards out, Marian Kello was however on hand to clear the danger.

The game was to end though in the same fashion that it began with a goal from Rudi Skacel. Hearts broke away and as Skacel got closer and closer to goal it was clear there was one thing on his mind and that was the hat-rick. He drilled the ball low into the left hand corner of goal and then raced to take Tynecastle's applause.

So three goals, a clean sheet and the first home win since April, things are shaping up nicely!

Hearts: Kello; Barr, Bouzid, Zaliukas, Palazuelos; Suso Templeton 78), Mrowiec (Black 71), Jonsson, Skacel; Elliot, (Elliott 69) Kyle. Subs not used: MacDonald, Stevenson, Glen, C Thomson.

St Mirren: Samson; McAusland, Potter, McGregor, Travner; McGowan, McLean (Mooy 59), Murray (Brady 78), Cregg; Wardlaw, Higdon (McQuade 85). Subs not used: Mathers, Van Zanten, McCluskey, McClennan.

Referee: Calum Murray

Top man: Rudi Skacel

Hearts World