Hearts 3 St Mirren 0

Relegation is now a very real possibility for St Mirren after the Buddies were handed a crushing three-goal defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.

The 15-point lead Danny Lennon's men once enjoyed over Clydesdale Bank Premier League basement boys Dundee has been slashed to just eight, and could be cut to five with two games to play if John Brown's side beat Aberdeen tomorrow.

It was a woeful display from the Paisley outfit as they conceded after Jamie Walker's opener just 14 minutes in.

Kevin McHattie's free-kick 60 seconds before half-time gave them an uphill task in the second period but a spirited opening five minutes was quickly quelled when Kenny McLean was sent off after barging into the scorer of the second in the box, leaving Jamie Hamill to wrap up the win from the penalty spot.

Brown has questioned Saints' bottle, and if his side beat the Dons at home, the Buddies will have to prove their mantle by beating either Aberdeen at home or Kilmarnock away if they want to retain possession of their SPL destiny.

The signs were ominous for Lennon's side as early as the third minute.

A frantic start saw John Sutton go close for the hosts while Saints keeper Craig Samson did well to adjust and block Jason Holt's drive five minutes later after it took a nick off Marc McAusland.

But the Paisley number one could do nothing with Walker's strike just before the quarter hour.

The 19-year-old robbed Esmael Goncalves just inside St Mirren territory and drove 25 yards up field unchallenged before smashing the ball off the underside of the bar and into Samson's net from the edge of the box.

On-loan Newcastle left-back Paul Dummett then survived a penalty appeal for St Mirren after appearing to handle in the box while Dale Carrick sent a half-volley over the bar as the Buddies failed to clear Hamill's launched free-kick after 25 minutes.

The visitors seemed unable to repel the continuous waves of maroon attacks and were hardly helped when right-back David Van Zanten was caught napping as the ball rolled towards the touchline.

Walker was alert again and pinched the ball but could only find the side-netting after darting into the area.

With no sign of improvement and Van Zanten on a booking after fouling Walker, Lennon tried to take the initiative by replacing the Irishman with striker Sam Parkin and moving midfielder Conor Newton back into defence.

But worse was to come for the Paisley men as McHattie rifled his 35-yard free-kick home a minute before the break.

It was soft award after McAusland tussled with Carrick but the strike went through the defensive wall and Samson was slow to get down.

Saints had managed just an off-target shot from Lee Mair in the first half but finally tested Jamie MacDonald five minutes after the interval as Newton slammed a shot against the keeper from 12 yards on the angle.

Holt was then required to head off the line as Parkin met Gary Teale's corner with a thumping header.

But just as Saints looked set to finally give their opponents a game, the match was over as a contest. The away defence was at sixes and sevens as Ryan Stevenson played in McHattie and McLean was forced to barge the young defender over just as he was about to pull the trigger.

Referee Brian Colvin pointed to the spot and produced a red card for the perpetrator, leaving Hamill to ram home his first goal of the season with the successful penalty.

A chink of light appeared on the hour mark when MacDonald was caught out of position as he saved Paul McGowan's low shot, but it was snuffed out when Hamill got back on the line to head Teale's lobbed effort from the rebound clear.

The right-back was there again to deny Saints as he headed away just as Parkin looked to tap into another empty net when MacDonald was clattered by Steven Thompson as they challenged for a high ball.

The demotion drama now moves to Tayside but Aberdeen can do Saints a favour by killing off Dundee's revival and sending them back to the Irn-Bru First Division by avoiding defeat.

The referee blows for the end of the match.

Paul Dummett challenges Jamie Hamill unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
91

Outswinging corner taken by Gary Teale from the right by-line, clearance by Dylan McGowan.
87

Jordan McGhee joins the action as a substitute, replacing Mehdi Taouil.
85

Shot on goal by David Smith from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
84

Free kick awarded for a foul by Marc McAusland on David Smith. Jamie Walker leaves the field to be replaced by Billy King. Strike comes in from Jamie Hamill from the free kick.
80

Foul by Jamie Walker on Conor Newton, free kick awarded. Jamie Walker is booked. Free kick taken by Gary Teale.
78

Headed effort from inside the area by John Sutton misses to the left of the target.
77

Shot from long distance by Jamie Hamill goes wide of the left-hand upright.
75

Lewis Guy joins the action as a substitute, replacing Steven Thompson.
73

Short corner taken by Gary Teale from the right by-line.
72

David Smith crosses the ball.
71

The referee gives a free kick against Paul McGowan for handball. Kevin McHattie takes the free kick.
70

The ball is crossed by David Smith.
68

Paul McGowan fouled by David Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Marc McAusland restarts play with the free kick.
66

Correction - Jamie Walker takes a shot. Jamie Walker decides to take the corner short. Save made by Craig Samson.
65

Jamie Walker takes a shot. Corner taken by Jamie Walker, save by Craig Samson.
65

David Smith on for Dale Carrick.
63

Effort from outside the box by Gary Teale goes wide right of the target.
62

Gary Teale takes a shot. Darren Barr manages to make a clearance.
61

Paul McGowan takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald.
60

Jamie Hamill fouled by Jon Robertson, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie MacDonald takes the indirect free kick.
59

The assistant referee signals for offside against Dale Carrick. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Samson.
59

Esmael Goncalves goes off and Jon Robertson comes on.
58

Lee Mair concedes a free kick for a foul on Dale Carrick. Mehdi Taouil restarts play with the free kick.
57

Handball by Lee Mair. Free kick taken by Jamie Hamill.
57

Inswinging corner taken by Kevin McHattie.
54

Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin McHattie by Kenny McLean. Kenny McLean receives a red card. Power penalty scored by Jamie Hamill. Hearts 3-0 St Mirren.
52

Correction - Corner taken by Gary Teale, Sam Parkin takes a shot. Jason Holt makes a clearance.
50

The referee shows Steven Thompson a yellow card for dissent.
51

Correction - Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Gary Teale, Sam Parkin takes a shot. Clearance made by Jason Holt.
50

Corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale from the right by-line, Sam Parkin takes a shot. Jason Holt makes a clearance.
50

Conor Newton takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald.
50

Outswinging corner taken by Gary Teale, clearance by Kevin McHattie.
49

Foul by Sam Parkin on Ryan Stevenson, free kick awarded. Ryan Stevenson takes the direct free kick.
48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Stevenson by Sam Parkin. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
47

Outswinging corner taken by Gary Teale.
47

The ball is sent over by Gary Teale, clearance by Darren Barr.
47

Inswinging corner taken by Kevin McHattie from the right by-line.
46

The match restarts for the second half.

The ref blows to signal half-time.

Ryan Stevenson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul McGowan. Paul McGowan takes the free kick.
45

Foul by Marc McAusland on Dale Carrick, free kick awarded. Free kick scored by Kevin McHattie. Hearts 2-0 St Mirren.
42

Foul by Dale Carrick on Lee Mair, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Paul McGowan.
38

Dale Carrick is caught offside. Craig Samson takes the free kick.
37

Sam Parkin is brought on as a substitute for David van Zanten.
37

The referee blows for offside against David van Zanten. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
36

Foul by Esmael Goncalves on Jamie Walker, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Kevin McHattie.
34

Booking for Darren Barr for unsporting behaviour.
34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Walker by David van Zanten. David van Zanten is shown a yellow card. Kevin McHattie produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save by Craig Samson.
32

The official flags John Sutton offside. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.
30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Walker by Conor Newton. Kevin McHattie restarts play with the free kick.
30

The ball is delivered by Conor Newton.
29

Jamie Walker takes a shot.
28

Conor Newton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John Sutton. Free kick taken by Jamie Hamill.
26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven Thompson on Mehdi Taouil. Free kick taken by Jamie Hamill, Shot on goal by Dale Carrick from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
23

Gary Teale is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
22

Jamie Walker produces a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by John Sutton misses to the right of the target.
22

Unfair challenge on Jason Holt by Esmael Goncalves results in a free kick. Jamie Hamill takes the indirect free kick.
19

The official flags Jamie Walker offside. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.
17

The ball is delivered by Ryan Stevenson, save made by Craig Samson.
16

A goal is scored by Jamie Walker from just inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Hearts 1-0 St Mirren.
13

Paul McGowan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Stevenson. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie Hamill.
11

Effort from just outside the area by Ryan Stevenson goes over the bar.
11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Barr on Steven Thompson. Gary Teale produces a cross, Close range effort by Lee Mair clears the crossbar.
9

Jason Holt takes a shot. Craig Samson gets a block in.
7

Conor Newton challenges Mehdi Taouil unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Mehdi Taouil.
2

John Sutton has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

Ryan Stevenson crosses the ball, Marc McAusland manages to make a clearance.

The match gets underway.

Taken from sportinglife.com