St. Mirren 0-2 Heart of Midlothian

Hearts are set for a semi final showdown with Celtic at Hampden after beating St Mirren 2-0 in Wednesday night's William Hill Scottish Cup quarter final replay at St Mirren Park.

A first half strike from Jamie Hamill put the Jambos ahead after Jamie MacDonald had saved a Graham Carey penalty. Rudi Skacel grabbed his customary goal against the Saints in the dying minutes to seal the win.

Captain Marius Zaliukas returned from suspension to partner Andy Webster in the heart of defence, whilst Ryan McGowan was given the nod at right back.

Mehdi Taouil and Stephen Elliott both picked up injuries in Sunday's derby win against Hibs, prompting a reshuffle in the Maroon midfield as Hamill and Darren Barr lined up alongside Ian Black and Andy Driver. Skacel, meanwhile, pushed forward to partner Craig Beattie in attack.

Hearts could have been ahead inside forty seconds as Beattie exchanged passes with Hamill on the right before releasing Skacel inside the box. The Czech escaped his marker but his finish from a tight angle narrowly missed the far post.

Nigel Hasselbaink and Jim Goodwin then both put Jamie MacDonald to the test from distance as the home side gradually began to find their attacking rhythm.

A long ball into the box was then judged to have come off the hand of Zaliukas, prompting referee Stevie O'Reilly to point to the spot kick despite Hasselbaink finding the in the ensuing goalmouth scramble. Carey duly stepped up to the mark but MacDonald produced a tremendous save as he dived full stretch to the left to push the ball out for a corner.

It was a considerable let-off for the Jambos who found themselves under relentless pressure form the home side. Driver offered some relief as he broke free inside the left channel but his finish was easily tipped away by Craig Samson.

Hamill then unleashed a thunderous shot from thirty yards which rattled the left post as Hearts gradually edged their way back into the tie.

It was end to end at this stage; a Steven Thompson shot grazed the side netting after deflecting off Zaliukas before Steven Thomson flashed a close range header into the arms of MacDonald.

On the half hour mark, Danny Grainger raced down the left before pulling the ball back across the box. The cross was cleared but only as far as Jamie Hamill on 25 yards who rifled a low shot into the bottom left corner to put the Jambos in front.

The goal helped settle the Edinburgh side as they began to find their passing game inside the opposition half. Both Beattie and Black went close from distance shortly before half time as the Jam Tarts finished the half in the ascendancy.

A close fought start to the second half came to life when David Van Zanten found himself in space on the right just before the hour mark, only to drag his shot wide of the left post.

Marc McAusland headed a Carey corner wide from close range shortly after as Lennon's men went in search of the equaliser.

Beattie then teed up Skacel on the edge of the box, the latter swivelling on the edge of the D before forcing a good save from Samson. It was a rare attacking foray for the boys in maroon who struggled to find the fluency in the final third.

The Saints were proving equally as ineffective up front, however, with a Goodwin volley from twelve yards the most they could muster as they quickly ran out of ideas.

Hearts then forced a series of throw-ins deep in the opposition half. It proved effective in taking the sting out of the game, and the ball eventually found its way to Driver on the left flank.

The winger carried the ball to the by-line before picking out an unmarked Skacel on seven yards. The fans favourite measured his shot before sliding the ball past Samson. The strike continued his remarkable goal tally against the Buddies, which now reads ten in six games.

Sergio replaced the goal scorer immediately after as Suso Santana was given a run out for the final few minutes. Scott Robinson and Gary Glen also made brief appearances as the Gorgie side comfortably saw out the remaining minutes.

Hearts will now face Celtic at Hampden Park on Sunday April 15th to battle it out for a place in the William Hill Scottish Cup Final.

St. Mirren: Samson; van Zanten, McAusland, Mair, Carey; Teale (Mooy 79), Goodwin, Murray (Tesselaar 69), Thomson; Thompson, Hasselbaink. Subs not used: Smith, McGregor,Barron.

Hearts: MacDonald; McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Hamill, Barr, Black (Robinson 90), Driver; Skacel (Suso 88), Beattie (Glen 90). Subs not used: Ridgers, Novikovas.

Referee: Stevie O'Reilly

Top man: Jamie MacDonald

Hearts World