SPL: Hearts 3 St Mirren 0

Oct 24 2010 Rob Fairburn, Sunday Mail

RAMPANT Rudi Skacel fired a hat-trick as he ended his Gorgie end goal jinx in style and secured Hearts' first SPL home win for six months.

The Czech hit a first-half double then drilled a low shot into the Saints net at the death - his first ever goal in front of the Gorgie Road stand.

There was only one name on the lips of the Hearts fans as the chants of "Rudi" echoed round the stadium.

When the final whistle blew he ran over to the Wheatfield Stand and handed his shirt to a woman waving a Czech flag to welcome him back to Edinburgh.

Skacel left the club after the Jambos' 2006 Scottish Cup triumph but returned in September - and was delighted that he's back among the goals.

He beamed: "I have missed so many chances at the Gorgie end so I am pleased to score my first - and it was my hat-trick AND with my right foot.

"But the most important thing is that we won. The goals boost my confidence and help me settle in the team.

"It was never going to be an easy game so to get off to a good start really helped the team."

Perhaps it was always meant to be with the stadium announcer declaring before kick-off that he had taken up Ladbrokes' offer of 80-1 against Hearts winning 3-0 and Skacel scoring the first goal.

But even he could not have predicted the Czech star going all the way and completing his hat-trick - what price would you have got for that? There were only 72 seconds on the clock when Skacel made his mark.

Suso Santana was the architect down the right, brilliantly turning his man on the touchline then cutting inside before picking out Skacel 25 yards out.

The Czech midfielder unleashed a thundering left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net to send the home faithful into raptures.

St Mirren tried to rally with Michael Higdon side-footing wide and Jamie McGowan sending a long-range effort into the arms of Marian Kello.

But the home side continued to dominate and it came as no surprise when they extended their lead in the 22nd minute. Saints defender John Potter impeded Calum Elliot after the Hearts striker had knocked the ball past him.

Up stepped Skacel to curl a deliciously struck left-foot shot in to the top corner from 25 yards.

He almost had his hat-trick before the interval following a surging box to box run from Marius Zaliukas.

It ended with the Hearts skipper slipping the ball out to the unmarked Skacel - but his shot deflected off Potter before hitting the bar and going over.

From the resultant corner Kevin Kyle out jumped the Saints defence but his header landed on the roof of the net.

Hearts took their foot off the gas after the interval as the Buddies closed down the space available to the home side.

And in the closing stages they began to threaten with long-range efforts from McGowan and sub Garry Brady.

There had been some positives for the Buddies with the performance of Aussie midfielder Aaron Mooy for 30 minutes after a loan was struck with Bolton.

And there was an impressive debut for 18-year-old Kenny McLean who was unfortunate to pick up a booking for a foul on Darren Barr on the touchline.

But this game was all about Skacel and he had the final word.

Picking the ball up in midfield he drove at the Saints defence before cutting on to his right foot and picking his spot with his weaker foot.

Taken from the Daily Record