Hearts 3 - 0 St Mirren

Hearts   3 - 0   St Mirren

Highlights - Hearts v St Mirren

Rudi Skacel slammed in a hat-trick at Tynecastle as Hearts beat St Mirren to keep the Paisley side rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premier League.

With only 75 seconds on the clock, Skacel bulleted a shot into the corner of the net from 20 yards.

And Hearts doubled their lead over the toothless Buddies when the Czech midfielder curled a free-kick home.

As a poor second half came to an end, Skacel scored his third, cutting inside and blasting past Craig Samson.

The appearance of Marius Zaliukas in the Hearts line-up for the second week in a row suggests there is a thawing in the relationship between the Lithuanian and club owner Vladimir Romanov, the latter having publicly criticised the player during contract talks.

Hearts were celebrating a goal after 75 seconds. Gorgie favourite Skacel finished off a move involving Suso Santana and Kevin Kyle, the big striker laying the ball off to the Czech midfielder who blasted a low shot into the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards.

Buddies striker Michael Higdon failed to connect well when set up by Kenny McLean as Hearts were almost caught out.

Then strike partner Paul McGowan prodded an effort straight at Hearts goalkeeper Marian Kello following Higdon's knock-down.

Skacel scored his third goal in four games since returning to Hearts when John Potter fouled Calum Elliot just outside the box and he curled the free-kick round the wall, leaving Craig Samson helpless.

St Mirren manager Danny Lennon was missing the experience of goalkeeper Paul Gallacher, Steven Thomson, David Barron and Craig Dargo in his team.

And Lennon would have been horrified to witness Zaliukas run 70 yards from the edge of his own box, then pass to Skacel on the left to set him up for his hat-trick.

However, the midfielder's shot ricocheted off John Potter and hit the Saints bar.

With a two-goal deficit at half-time, Lennon's team-talk would doubtless have focused on the effect an early goal could have on the St Mirren cause.

But there was little on offer from Higdon and McGowan, while Gareth Wardlaw made one promising second-half run before the move petered out.

Calum Elliot made a hash of a volley at the back post as Hearts blew the chance to go three goals up and he was subbed with 21 minutes to go for his namesake Stephen.

Lennon tried to inject some life into St Mirren's play by giving midfielder Aaron Mooy his first taste of Scottish football since joining from Bolton on Friday.

Saints defenders Darren McGregor and Potter tried gamely to head and hoof clear any balls that came into the box.

With a little over 10 minutes remaining one header by the former denied Skacel the chance to put the match out of the Paisley side's reach.

The attacks on either flank by Skacel and Santana dried up in a disappointing second half, while Paul McQuade's late appearance for Michael Higdon did not give the St Mirren player time to make a difference.

In injury-time, Skacel completed his hat-trick with a great individual goal. With no apparent danger, he cut infield and hit a right-foot shot past Samson to round off a memorable day for him.

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Saturday, 23 October 2010

Scottish Premier

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Hearts	3-0	St Mirren	FT
(HT 2-0)
Skacel 2 Skacel 24 Skacel 90+2

Hearts

• 25 Kello
• 05 Barr
• 21 Ismael Bouzid
• 26 Zaliukas
• 04 Jonsson
• 06 Palazuelos
• 07 Suso Santana (Templeton 79)
• 19 Skacel
• 31 Mrowiec (Black 72)
• 09 Kyle
• 14 Elliot (Elliott 70)

Substitutes

• 30 MacDonald,
• 24 Thomson,
• 08 Black,
• 12 Templeton,
• 16 Stevenson,
• 10 Elliott,
• 23 Glen

St Mirren

• 12 Samson
• 06 Potter
• 14 McGregor
• 16 Travner
• 17 McAusland
• 07 Murray yellow card (Brady 79)
• 27 Cregg
• 45 Mclean yellow card (Mooy 59)
• 10 Higdon (McQuade 85)
• 18 Wardlaw
• 19 McGowan

Substitutes

• 30 Mathers,
• 02 van Zanten,
• 04 Brady,
• 22 McCluskey,
• 29 McLennan,
• 33 Mooy ,
• 15 McQuade

Ref: MurrayAtt: 12,009

HEARTS

ST MIRREN

Possession

• Hearts 58%
• St Mirren 42%

Attempts on target

• Hearts 5
• St Mirren 3

Attempts off target

• Hearts 4
• St Mirren 2

Corners

• Hearts 8
• St Mirren 2

Fouls

• Hearts 13
• St Mirren 14

• Final Result
• Full Time
• 90:00+2:18 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
• 90:00+1:13 The assist for the goal came from Darren Barr.
• 90:00+1:13 GOAL - Rudi Skacel:Hearts 3 - 0 St Mirren Rudolf Skacel grabs a goal from just outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hearts 3-0 St Mirren.
• 90:00+0:57 The ball is crossed by Garry Brady, clearance by Darren Barr.
• 90:00+0:27 Ian Black challenges Jure Travner unfairly and gives away a free kick. Patrick Cregg takes the free kick.
• 89:05 Long range shot by Garry Brady goes wide right of the net.
• 88:59 The ball is crossed by Paul McGowan, clearance by Ruben Palazuelos.
• 88:29 Kevin Kyle is caught offside. Craig Samson takes the indirect free kick.
• 87:13 Kevin Kyle challenges Marc McAusland unfairly and gives away a free kick. Marc McAusland restarts play with the free kick.
• 84:59 Substitution (St Mirren) makes a substitution, with Paul McQuade coming on for Michael Higdon.
• 82:13 Corner taken left-footed by Rudolf Skacel from the left by-line, Darren McGregor manages to make a clearance.
• 81:45 Corner taken left-footed by Rudolf Skacel from the left by-line, Darren McGregor manages to make a clearance.
• 81:12 Patrick Cregg challenges David Templeton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ian Black restarts play with the free kick.
• 80:04 Paul McGowan takes a shot. Fantastic save by Marian Kello.
• 79:23 Corner from the right by-line taken by Rudolf Skacel, clearance made by Marc McAusland.
• 78:39 Substitution Garry Brady is brought on as a substitute for Hugh Murray.
• 78:23 Substitution Suso Santana goes off and David Templeton comes on.
• 74:45 The referee blows for offside against Kevin Kyle. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Samson.
• 73:05 The ball is crossed by Marc McAusland, Ismael Bouzid manages to make a clearance.
• 71:59 Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren McGregor on Kevin Kyle. Marius Zaliukas takes the free kick.
• 71:12 Substitution Adrian Mrowiec leaves the field to be replaced by Ian Black.
• 69:02 Substitution Stephen Elliott replaces Calum Elliot.
• 67:44 Calum Elliot challenges Darren McGregor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Samson takes the direct free kick.
• 67:03 Centre by Marc McAusland.
• 62:24 Foul by Hugh Murray on Calum Elliot, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed left-footed by Rudolf Skacel, save by Craig Samson.
• 61:13 Marian Kello fouled by Gareth Wardlaw, the ref awards a free kick. Marian Kello restarts play with the free kick.
• 61:00 The ball is delivered by Marc McAusland, Marian Kello makes a save.
• 58:54 Substitution Aaron Mooy is brought on as a substitute for Kenneth McLean.
• 57:50 Paul McGowan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren Barr. Direct free kick taken by Eggert Jonsson.
• 56:42 Unfair challenge on Rudolf Skacel by Hugh Murray results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Ismael Bouzid.
• 54:13 Effort from outside the penalty area by Calum Elliot goes wide left of the goal.
• 53:35 Effort on goal by Calum Elliot from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.
• 53:04 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Rudolf Skacel from the left by-line.
• 52:37 Calum Elliot delivers the ball, clearance made by John Potter.
• 52:19 Rudolf Skacel produces a cross.
• 51:07 Corner taken left-footed by Rudolf Skacel, clearance by Darren McGregor.
• 50:08 Michael Higdon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marius Zaliukas. Free kick taken by Ruben Palazuelos.
• 49:14 Eggert Jonsson concedes a free kick for a foul on Jure Travner. Jure Travner restarts play with the free kick.
• 48:22 Unfair challenge on Marc McAusland by Calum Elliot results in a free kick. John Potter takes the direct free kick.
• 46:29 Adrian Mrowiec concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Higdon. Direct free kick taken by Patrick Cregg.
• 45:22 Hugh Murray gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rudolf Skacel. Free kick crossed left-footed by Rudolf Skacel, clearance made by Marc McAusland.
• 45:01 The second half kicks off.
• Half Time
• 45:00+0:06 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
• 43:33 The assistant referee flags for offside against Michael Higdon. Free kick taken by Ismael Bouzid.
• 41:05 Suso Santana gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kenneth McLean. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Patrick Cregg from left wing, clearance made by Marius Zaliukas.
• 39:30 Corner from the right by-line taken by Rudolf Skacel, Header from deep inside the area by Kevin Kyle goes over the bar.
• 39:09 Rudolf Skacel has an effort at goal. John Potter gets a block in.
• 37:46 Ruben Palazuelos concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc McAusland. Free kick taken by John Potter.
• 36:31 Free kick awarded for a foul by Patrick Cregg on Calum Elliot. Direct free kick taken by Darren Barr.
• 35:39 Hugh Murray crosses the ball, Paul McGowan takes a shot. Comfortable save by Marian Kello.
• Correction - 33:38 Corner taken by Rudolf Skacel, Darren McGregor makes a clearance.
• 33:38 Corner from the right by-line taken by Rudolf Skacel, Gareth Wardlaw makes a clearance.
• 33:01 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Paul McGowan, clearance made by Ruben Palazuelos.
• 31:19 Gareth Wardlaw challenges Suso Santana unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ismael Bouzid.
• 29:56 Marc McAusland fouled by Calum Elliot, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Samson.
• 28:54 Kevin Kyle concedes a free kick for a foul on Jure Travner. Jure Travner takes the free kick.
• 27:00 Kenneth McLean concedes a free kick for a foul on Darren Barr. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Rudolf Skacel from left wing, save made by Craig Samson.
• 27:00 Booking Kenneth McLean is given a yellow card.
• 24:22 Kevin Kyle is caught offside. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.
• 23:21 Foul by John Potter on Kevin Kyle, free kick awarded.
• 23:21 GOAL - Rudi Skacel:Hearts 2 - 0 St Mirren Rudolf Skacel scores a goal from outside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Hearts 2-0 St Mirren.
• 22:16 Foul by Gareth Wardlaw on Marian Kello, free kick awarded. Marian Kello takes the direct free kick.
• 21:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul McGowan by Eggert Jonsson. Patrick Cregg takes the direct free kick.
• 20:46 Kevin Kyle has an effort at goal from long distance that misses to the left of the goal.
• 19:33 Marc McAusland sends in a cross.
• 17:34 Free kick awarded for a foul by Hugh Murray on Suso Santana. Free kick crossed left-footed by Rudolf Skacel, Darren McGregor manages to make a clearance.
• 17:34 Booking The referee shows Hugh Murray a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
• 15:53 Corner taken right-footed by Paul McGowan to the near post, Marius Zaliukas makes a clearance.
• 15:27 Paul McGowan takes a shot. Comfortable save by Marian Kello.
• 11:53 Corner taken by Rudolf Skacel from the right by-line, Paul McGowan manages to make a clearance.
• 10:10 The assistant referee flags for offside against Kevin Kyle. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.
• 10:01 A cross is delivered by Darren Barr.
• 8:59 Kevin Kyle concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc McAusland. Free kick taken by John Potter.
• 7:12 Michael Higdon has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
• 4:58 Adrian Mrowiec challenges Patrick Cregg unfairly and gives away a free kick. Hugh Murray takes the direct free kick.
• 3:59 Darren Barr takes a shot. John Potter gets a block in.
• 3:46 Calum Elliot sends in a cross, save by Craig Samson.
• 1:11 Assist by Suso Santana.
• 1:11 GOAL - Rudi Skacel:Hearts 1 - 0 St Mirren Rudolf Skacel fires in a goal from just outside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hearts 1-0 St Mirren.
• 0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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