Skacel hat-trick brings home fans a win

The creativity of Suso allied to Skacel's clinical finishing secured the hosts three points at Tynecastle for the first time this season. It was a game they controlled virtually from start to finish against what, in truth, appeared a rather inept visiting side.

That said, Hearts' passing football was both efficient and enthralling as they pinned the opposition in their own half for long periods. With Suso on the right and Skacel wide left, they had the game's tormentors in chief and utilised them both to their advantage, particularly during the first 45 minutes. They also recorded a clean sheet for the second successive week. But there was no denying it was Skacel's day by dint of a quite brilliant hat-trick.

With an unchanged team from last weekend's victory at Aberdeen, Hearts required less than 90 seconds to shift into gear. Suso's tenacious build-up play down the right was the catalyst for the goal. The Spaniard forced his way inside for a pass to Kevin Kyle, whose lay-off was controlled and dispatched beyond goalkeeper Craig Samson from 20 yards by Skacel.

If that strike was impressive, the Czech's second was utterly spectacular. Calum Elliot was impeded by St Mirren's John Potter and Skacel arced the resultant free-kick high into Samson's top left corner from outside the penalty area. He willingly accepted the acclaim, and it was clear from that juncture that there would only be one victor in this encounter.

It took St Mirren 35 minutes to register a shot on target, one of many issues which must concern their manager Danny Lennon. Paul McGowan headed Hugh Murray's cross tamely at Marian Kello and thereafter the precession towards the visitors' goal resumed. Hearts, in full flow, were superb and caused untold trouble for St Mirren's defence with a high-tempo, pass-and-move philosophy.

This was never better illustrated than in the 39th minute. Marius Zaliukas scampered out of defence in possession and skipped past a challenge in midfield to run unobstructed at the opposition. He slipped a pass sideways to Skacel as St Mirren backed off, and the midfielder's vicious drive looked netbound until John Potter's sliding challenge deflected the ball onto the crossbar and over.

The second half was marginally more balanced in that St Mirren ventured forward slightly more often. Hearts did not pass the ball quite as freely as before the interval but still remained comfortably in control.

St Mirren appealed for a penalty following Suso's slide tackle on Jure Travner, however referee Calum Murray ignored the claims. He did likewise in the first half when Hearts shouted for a spot-kick and was at least consistent in his decision-making.

McGowan's 30-yard drive tested Kello momentarily and there was a late attempt by Gary Brady which the Slovakian watched soar over his crossbar. The game looked like petering out during the final stages with both sides by then realising that the points were staying in Edinburgh. Then Skacel intervened, collected possession and turned his opponent inside out before rasping the ball beyond Samson.

His two previous efforts had come from his left foot, the final one was with the right, and he deservedly departed with the match ball.

Hearts (4-4-2): Kello; Barr, Bouzid, Zaliukas, Palazuelos; Suso (Templeton 79), Jonsson, Mrowiec (Black 72), Skacel; Kyle, C Elliot (S Elliott 70). Subs: MacDonald, Stevenson, Glen, C Thomson.

St Mirren (4-4-2): Samson; McAusland, Potter, McGregor, Travner; McGowan, Cregg, Murray (Brady 79), McLean (Mooy 60); Higdon (McQuade 86), Wardlaw. Subs: Mathers, Van Zanten, McCluskey, McLennan.

Referee: Calum Murray.

Attendance: 12,009.

Taken from the Scotsman