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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ben Ramage

St Mirren seal huge Hearts win to take massive step closer to historic top-six finish

St Mirren took a massive step towards the top-six promised land with a historic and dominant win against Hearts.

The Buddies hadn't tasted victory at Tynecastle since 2013 and were a tad fortunate not to find themselves behind at the break when Andy Halliday's header rattled the crossbar.

In truth that was the only significant chance the hosts created on an afternoon that belonged to the Buddies.

First Curtis Main battled his way past Kye Rowles before arrowing a sweet left-footed strike into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.

Then Mark O'Hara's effort from a long-throw deflected in off Alex Gogic to put the Saints even further in front.

Things got even sweeter for Stephen Robinson when the Jambos were reduced to ten men, Robert Snodgrass wiping out Main to pick up a second yellow card.

And roared on by an impressive away support, the Saints held on to pick up a massive three points that saw them stay fifth in the Premiership table with just two games to go until the split.

Crucially St Mirren are now five points clear of nearest top-six challengers Livingston, with a trip to Ibrox and a home clash against Killie all that stand between the Saints and a first top half finish since 1985.

An early Ryan Strain free-kick caused some panic in the Hearts box, with the Buddies hoping to pile the pressure on early in the capital.

Thierry Small, who kept his place in the starting XI after a fine performance against Livingston, shot well over the bar from a promising position after being picked out by Main.

Hearts midfielder Snodgrass picked up an early yellow card for wiping out Mark O'Hara as the Paisley side continued to dominate proceedings.

Small's pinpoint corner was flicked past the post by skipper Joe Shaughnessy with keeper Ross Stewart, making just his third appearance of the season, looking well beaten.

Lawrence Shankland saw a snapshot deflected just wide of the post in what was the first nervy moment for Saints keeper Trevor Carson, who was a spectator for the opening quarter of an hour in Gorgie.

A misplaced James Hill pass was snapped up by Keanu Baccus who in turn fed Tony Watt. His effort was blocked by a retreating Kye Rowles as St Mirren hunted an opener.

The visitors continued to threaten from set pieces. Another excellent Small corner found Gogic at the back post, with the Cyprus international's header bouncing just over the bar.

The home support started to vent their frustration at their own team on the half hour mark, with Hearts struggling to play either through or over the top of Stephen Robinson's resolute Saints.

While the Jambos enjoyed more possession towards the end of the first half, they rarely threatened Carson. Shankland's deflected header from a Snodgrass corner was the closest the hosts came to causing the St Mirren defence any sort of problem.

Just before the break Robbie Neilson's side mustered their first significant chance.

Stephen Kingsley sniffed out some space on the left wing and swung in a sublime cross that Halliday headed onto the bar with Carson beaten.

In the end the Saints were happy enough to hear the half-time whistle, with Halliday again going close, this time from a Michael Smith delivery.

The hosts raced out of the traps at the start of the second half and should have fired themselves in front.

A swift move down the left flank led to Halliday flashing the ball across the box, eventually falling to Smith. With the goal at his mercy, the experienced defender fired straight down the throat of Carson who beat the strike away.

In a frenetic start to the second period, Baccus blasted over the bar from a promising position.

Smith went into the book for a terrible tackle on Watt on the left wing as the Buddies continued to look lively on the counter, with Gogic flashing another header wide shortly after.

St Mirren's endeavour paid off when Main chased a long through ball, putting pressure on Rowles.

The striker managed to get the ball out of his feet before fizzing home an excellent low strike into the bottom corner past a sprawling Stewart.

And just five minutes later the Buddies doubled their lead. A long throw-in caused havoc in the box, with O'Hara's deflected strike beating Stewart to send the away support wild once again.

Shankland and sub Alex Cochrane both blasted over the bar as Hearts desperately sought a foothold in the game.

But things got even worse for the jittery Jambos when Snodgrass picked up a second yellow for a lunge on Main, putting the hosts down to ten men as well as two goals behind.

Charles Dunne picked up a yellow card for a foul on Stephen Humphrys as St Mirren continued to hold firm in the capital. Kingsley found the roof of the net with a resulting free-kick.

Baccus overcooked a pass that would have sent Watt in for a chance of a third as the game ticked into the last 20 minutes.

Alan Forrest spurned a glorious chance to grab one back when he sclaffed wide from just outside the six-yard box.

Truthfully the misfiring hosts never looked like even getting one back, let alone two on a trip to the capital to remember for the Buddies, who rightly celebrated wildly at full-time.

A top-six finish and a tilt at European football are now at the Paisley club's mercy.

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