Hearts 5 St Mirren 2

Jan 15 2012 By Tony Haggerty, Sunday Mail

Hearts star Rudi Skacel slams home his second goal against St Mirren

RUDI SKACEL inspired 10-man Hearts with a glorious hat-trick – then insisted he is desperate to stay at Tynecastle.

The Czech star’s contract expires at the end of this month but he insisted his treble was a reminder to Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov of his
commitment to the Jambos.

He now plans to meet with club chiefs to hammer out a deal.

Skacel said: “Hopefully my hat-trick will help convince the owners that I want to stay for another season.

“We will meet next week and hopefully get it sorted out.

“It feels great to score but a hat-trick is something special.

“I hope it has given everyone a lift – especially our supporters – and hopefullyI’ll get a chance to keep playing for them.

“I will know more about my future within the next two weeks but I’m happy here.”

This match was barely 60 seconds old when Hearts took the lead.

Their first attack won a corner that was floated in by Ian Black.

Captain Marius Zaliukas rose unmarked to nod home powerfully for his first goal of the season.

The game took an astonishing twist in 11 minutes when Zaliukas was ordered off.

Kenny McLean picked out Paul McGowan but Zaliukas upended him as he went to pull the trigger.

Ref Steven McLean had no choice but to award the penalty and flash red at the Lithuanian.

McGowan neatly tucked away the spot-kick high past Marian Kello.

And the Buddies took the lead in 18 minutes when Stephen Elliott’s slack pass was intercepted and Gary Teale’s cross found

Steven Thompson who glided a looping header over Kello.

Skacel hammered home a beautiful equaliser four minutes later – an explosive 23-yard shot that flashed past Craig Samson.

The Czech did more damage in the second half.

In the 64th minute, Jamie Hamill took a throw-in, John Sutton headed on and Skacel battered home another screamer from 20 yards.

Four minutes later Skacel bagged a glorious hat-trick when he unleashed a 20-yard effort low past Samson – his ninth goal of the season.

Hearts added a fifth in the 89th minute, Black setting up Sutton who smashed a beauty high in to the roof of the net.

It made for a wonderful day for the Hearts players who are due to be paid on Monday.

Jambos boss Paulo Sergio says he is sick of talking about the non-payment of salaries.

Sergio said: “Why are we talking about the wages thing?

“Hearts have won five out of their last six games and we came back to win this match with 10 men.

“Rudi scored three tremendous goals. I hope he stays and he has not given me an indication he wants to leave. I am happy to have him.

“There seems to be this idea that there is a fire sale of players at this club. Maybe that is true but I don’t think it is going to happen.”

Taken from the Daily Record