Hearts' Rudi Skacel hit a treble as his 10-man side rallied from 2-1 down to go third in the Scottish Premier League.

Marius Zaliukas headed the Tynecastle team ahead after 52 seconds, but then saw red as he fouled Paul McGowan for a penalty and the St Mirren man converted.

Steven Thompson nodded the visitors in front but Skacel's 30-yarder levelled the scores once more.

The Czech unleashed two more long-range goals before John Sutton hit a fifth.

Hearts had gone ahead early on after Scott Robinson's dangerous effort into the box had to be cleared for a corner. Ian Black launched his kick into the penalty area and Zaliukas escaped marker Marc McAusland to power a header past St Mirren keeper Craig Samson.

However, within 12 minutes Zaliukas turned sinner when he took out McGowan as he was about to pull the trigger for Saints. Referee Steven McLean flourished the red card to the captain and McGowan dusted himself down to beat Marian Kello from the resultant penalty and level the scores.

St Mirren made the Tynecastle side pay on 19 minutes. Thompson connected with McAusland's cross from the right to beat Adrian Mrowiec and powered home a clever header over the keeper from 18 yards.

Incredibly, 10-man Hearts levelled four minutes later. St Mirren appealed for a free kick for an apparent Skacel push on Graham Carey after they failed to clear a corner, but play was waved on and the Czech thumped home a 30-yard left-foot thunderbolt.

The tempo of the game began to slow following the frenetic opening quarter and the teams reached the interval level, as the flurry of chances eventually dried up.

Black was booked for an attempted trip on McGowan and Hearts boss Paulo Sergio was spoken to by referee McLean after leaving his technical area to protest against the decision.

Elliott blasted over as St Mirren scrambled and failed to clear a Black free-kick into the area before Kello parried a Carey drive from the left edge of the box.

Skacel restored Hearts' lead with his second after 64 minutes. Jamie Hamill's long throw found John Sutton, who laid the ball off and Skacel made space before firing a shot into the bottom corner.

Five minutes later Skacel completed his hat-trick. Black won the ball and Skacel found space to unleash another left-shoot shot across St Mirren keeper Craig Samson.

Amazingly, Hearts hit a fifth through Sutton. Danny Lennon's men were penalised for a handled pass-back and, from the resultant free kick, Black laid the ball off to the English striker to shoot into the top corner and seal a remarkable three points.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Hearts

  • 25 Kello
  • 05 Barr
  • 06 Webster
  • 26 Zaliukas Dismissed
  • 02 Hamill
  • 08 Black Booked (Novikovas - 90' )
  • 19 Skacel (Suso Santana - 90' )
  • 31 Mrowiec
  • 10 Elliott (Obua - 85' )
  • 15 Sutton
  • 27 Robinson

Substitutes

  • 30 MacDonald
  • 13 Obua
  • 07 Suso Santana
  • 40 Hamilton
  • 42 Holt
  • 18 Novikovas
  • 23 Glen

St Mirren

  • 01 Samson
  • 02 van Zanten (Thomson - 75' )
  • 03 Barron
  • 05 Mair
  • 14 McAusland
  • 22 Tesselaar Booked
  • 17 Mclean
  • 21 Teale (Hasselbaink - 75' )
  • 23 Carey Booked (Thomas Reilly - 90' )
  • 09 Thompson
  • 10 McGowan

Substitutes

  • 12 Smith
  • 37 Naismith
  • 07 Murray
  • 08 Thomson
  • 15 Mooy
  • 11 Hasselbaink
  • 39 Thomas Reilly
Ref: Mclean
Att: 12,462

Match Stats

Shots

8 10

On target

5 5

Corners

4 8

Fouls

10 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:30 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +4:56

Nigel Hasselbaink has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

90:00 +4:32

Centre by Paul McGowan, save by Marian Kello.

90:00 +1:32 Substitution

Substitution Thomas Reilly comes on in place of Graham Carey.

90:00 +1:32 Substitution

Substitution Ian Black leaves the field to be replaced by Arvydas Novikovas.

90:00 +1:32

Lee Mair challenges Suso Santana unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ian Black, Lee Mair manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +1:16

The ball is delivered by Suso Santana, clearance by Marc McAusland.

90:00 +0:10 Substitution

Substitution Suso Santana replaces Rudi Skacel.

89:17

Assist on the goal came from Ian Black.

89:17 Goal scored

Goal - John Sutton - Hearts 5 - 2 St Mirren A goal is scored by John Sutton from inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Hearts 5-2 St Mirren.

87:03

Centre by Ian Black,

85:48

Direct free kick taken by Jamie Hamill.

85:48 Booking

Booking Jeroen Tesselaar goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

85:41

Rudi Skacel fouled by Jeroen Tesselaar, the ref awards a free kick.

84:56 Substitution

Substitution David Obua comes on in place of Stephen Elliott.

84:12

Corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey to the near post, clearance made by John Sutton. Kenny McLean has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

82:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Barron on Stephen Elliott. Free kick taken by Marian Kello.

80:11

David Barron delivers the ball, save by Marian Kello.

79:42

David Barron sends in a cross, clearance made by Ian Black.

78:49

Jeroen Tesselaar crosses the ball, Marian Kello makes a save. Corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey, Jamie Hamill manages to make a clearance.

78:29

Graham Carey sends in a cross, Andy Webster makes a clearance.

76:56

David Barron produces a cross, clearance by Andy Webster.

76:17

Jamie Hamill challenges Jeroen Tesselaar unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jeroen Tesselaar.

75:12

Ian Black takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by David Barron.

74:05 Substitution

Substitution Steven Thomson on for David van Zanten.

74:05 Substitution

Substitution Nigel Hasselbaink replaces Gary Teale.

74:05

Effort on goal by Jeroen Tesselaar from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

73:32

Corner taken by Graham Carey from the left by-line to the near post, Jamie Hamill makes a clearance.

72:44

David van Zanten produces a cross, Steven Thompson takes a shot. Save made by Marian Kello.

71:23

Close range header by Steven Thompson goes over the bar.

71:23

Steven Thompson produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the crossbar.

70:10

Centre by David van Zanten, Marian Kello makes a save.

67:58

Assist by Ian Black.

67:58 Goal scored

Goal - Rudi Skacel - Hearts 4 - 2 St Mirren Rudi Skacel fires in a goal from just outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hearts 4-2 St Mirren.

67:00

David van Zanten gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ian Black. Marian Kello restarts play with the free kick.

66:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Barron on John Sutton. Marian Kello takes the direct free kick.

65:44

Jeroen Tesselaar sends in a cross. The ball is crossed by Graham Carey, Andy Webster manages to make a clearance.

64:55

The official flags Rudi Skacel offside. Marc McAusland takes the free kick.

63:20

The assist for the goal came from John Sutton.

63:20 Goal scored

Goal - Rudi Skacel - Hearts 3 - 2 St Mirren Rudi Skacel fires in a goal from outside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hearts 3-2 St Mirren.

62:05

Effort on goal by Graham Carey from inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

60:52

The ball is sent over by Kenny McLean, Ian Black manages to make a clearance.

60:37

The ball is sent over by Graham Carey, clearance by Andy Webster.

59:51

The ball is delivered by Gary Teale, save by Marian Kello.

58:21

Scott Robinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kenny McLean. Graham Carey takes the direct free kick.

56:00

Graham Carey takes a shot. Marian Kello makes a save.

55:19

The ball is delivered by Gary Teale, Andy Webster makes a clearance.

55:07

The ball is delivered by Graham Carey, clearance by Stephen Elliott.

53:09

David van Zanten concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Elliott. Ian Black takes the free kick. Adrian Mrowiec takes a shot. Marc McAusland makes a clearance. Stephen Elliott has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

52:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kenny McLean by Adrian Mrowiec. Free kick taken by Kenny McLean.

50:48

Steven Thompson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Webster. Marian Kello restarts play with the free kick.

49:13

Corner taken by Graham Carey from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by John Sutton.

49:13 Booking

Booking Ian Black booked for unsporting behaviour.

48:03

A cross is delivered by Graham Carey.

46:34

The ball is delivered by David van Zanten, Andy Webster makes a clearance.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +2:48 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +1:31

Corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey from the right by-line, clearance by Andy Webster. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Graham Carey.

42:12

Paul McGowan is ruled offside. Marian Kello takes the free kick.

41:35

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey from the right by-line, save by Marian Kello.

39:41

David van Zanten concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Elliott. Andy Webster takes the free kick.

37:57

Graham Carey delivers the ball.

37:33

Adrian Mrowiec challenges Steven Thompson unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Barron restarts play with the free kick.

37:02

Steven Thompson is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Marian Kello.

34:46

Foul by John Sutton on David Barron, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by David Barron.

31:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marc McAusland by Rudi Skacel. Direct free kick taken by Craig Samson.

30:44

Paul McGowan takes a shot. Save by Marian Kello.

29:21

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Robinson on Paul McGowan. Graham Carey delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Adrian Mrowiec makes a clearance. Corner taken by Graham Carey from the right by-line played to the near post, Andy Webster makes a clearance.

26:36

Foul by Jeroen Tesselaar on Rudi Skacel, free kick awarded. Adrian Mrowiec takes the direct free kick.

25:48

Kenny McLean takes a shot. Save by Marian Kello.

25:35

Graham Carey produces a cross, Adrian Mrowiec makes a clearance.

24:12

Unfair challenge on Darren Barr by David Barron results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andy Webster.

22:39 Goal scored

Goal - Rudi Skacel - Hearts 2 - 2 St Mirren Goal scored by Rudi Skacel from outside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Hearts 2-2 St Mirren.

22:07

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ian Black, clearance made by Marc McAusland.

21:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott Robinson by David Barron. Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.

20:39

The ball is crossed by Graham Carey, clearance made by Darren Barr.

19:28

Rudi Skacel delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Craig Samson makes a save.

19:28 Booking

Booking The referee shows Graham Carey a yellow card.

19:22

Unfair challenge on Jamie Hamill by Graham Carey results in a free kick.

18:02

The assist for the goal came from Marc McAusland.

18:02 Goal scored

Goal - Steven Thompson - Hearts 1 - 2 St Mirren Steven Thompson grabs a headed goal from just inside the penalty box. Hearts 1-2 St Mirren.

15:19

The ball is sent over by Gary Teale. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ian Black. Jamie Hamill delivers the ball.

12:13 Goal scored

Goal - Paul McGowan - Hearts 1 - 1 St Mirren Paul McGowan scores a placed penalty. Hearts 1-1 St Mirren.

11:10 Dismissal

Dismissal Marius Zaliukas sent from the field by the ref for professional foul.

11:03

Marius Zaliukas concedes a Penalty for a foul on Paul McGowan.

10:15

Foul by Graham Carey on Jamie Hamill, free kick awarded. Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.

9:56

Paul McGowan crosses the ball, Jamie Hamill manages to make a clearance.

9:10

David van Zanten delivers the ball, Marius Zaliukas manages to make a clearance.

8:43

Jeroen Tesselaar sends in a cross, clearance made by Darren Barr.

7:44

The ball is sent over by Graham Carey. The referee blows for offside. Marian Kello takes the free kick.

6:58

John Sutton concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc McAusland. Direct free kick taken by Marc McAusland.

3:57

Stephen Elliott produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area and hits the post.

3:08

Jeroen Tesselaar gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Robinson. Scott Robinson takes the free kick.

2:18

Rudi Skacel gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul McGowan. Paul McGowan restarts play with the free kick.

0:52

The assist for the goal came from Ian Black.

0:52 Goal scored

Goal - Marius Zaliukas - Hearts 1 - 0 St Mirren Marius Zaliukas finds the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Hearts 1-0 St Mirren.

0:26

Corner taken by Ian Black from the right by-line,

0:00

The match has kicked off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association