Marius Zaliukas prodded home Hearts' extra-time winner to secure an astonishing Scottish Cup fifth-round comeback against St Johnstone.

Jamie Hamill's controversial stoppage-time penalty had levelled the scores in normal time at McDiarmid Park.

Murray Davidson's 83rd-minute goal had seemingly put the hosts on course for a place in the quarter-finals against St Mirren until that disputed penalty.

But Alan Maybury was ruled to have felled Suso to concede the spot-kick.

And, despite furious protests from Saints players accusing the Spaniard of a dive, Hamill ensured Hearts' survival into extra-time and ultimately on to a home tie in the last eight.

St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas had made four changes for the replay following Saturday's 5-1 thrashing by Dundee United.

It was no surprise that Alan Mannus replaced Peter Enckelman in goal, while Maybury, Murray Davidson and Frazer Wright started in place of Callum Davidson, Lee Croft and the suspended Dave MacKay.

And, in a bright start for the hosts, Cillian Sheridan lashed an effort just wide of the target.

Hearts, for whom David Obua and Scott Robinson returned in place of Ian Black and Andrew Driver, had a chance of their own when Danny Grainger fired a free-kick over the bar.

Visiting goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald was worked for the first time when he dived low to parry Sheridan's long-range drive, while Skacel's shot forced Mannus into an excellent stop.

Hearts began the second half by forcing a flurry of corners and almost grabbed the lead in fortuitous circumstances when Mehdi Taouil's stinging drive struck team-mate Zaliukas, but the ball drifted just past the post with Mannus beaten.

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“I watched the DVD and feel it was a very, very soft penalty”

Steve Lomas St Johnstone manager

Chris Millar shot wide for the hosts, then his looping cross almost dipped underneath the bar.

Robinson blazed over when in a promising position, much to the dismay of the large travelling support, as both goalkeepers remained virtual spectators.

The home side finally broke the deadlock when Croft broke down the right and slipped the ball inside to Davidson, who prodded the ball high into the net.

Hearts substitute David Templeton weaved past three defenders but struck just inches wide of the post, while team-mate Adrian Mrowiec was denied by an excellent block by David McCracken.

The tiring visitors were handed a lifeline when referee Brian Winter ruled that Suso had been brought down by Maybury and Hamill sent Mannus the wrong way from the spot after furious protests from Maybury.

St Johnstone dominated the majority of extra-time, but Zaliukas prodded home with three minutes remaining after the hosts' defence failed to deal with Hamill's dangerous corner.

St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas : "I watched the DVD and feel it was a very, very soft penalty.

"I feel for my boys as I asked for a much-improved display after Saturday and they gave it everything. Sometimes you need a bit of luck in the Cup.

"I don't want to criticise the referee, but when you see the replay on television, he sees Alan Maybury and falls into him.

"We asked for a performance and felt we got that, but no matter what you do, you need a bit of luck.

"Ten seconds before the end, the referee gives a penalty. It's a massive call from him."

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio : "We can play better - and we should.

"But people forget that we are in a sequence of nine games in three weeks, playing every three days.

"The squad at the moment does not allow me to make the management I would like to do and the players are tired and we can feel that.

"But they were brave and we played with different kinds of strategies all the time and our players and our supporters deserve this moment.

"I should say that St Johnstone maybe deserve as much as us to go through as they too were playing three days after a bad defeat."

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (6)

St Johnstone

  • 15 Mannus
  • 05 Wright
  • 06 Anderson (Oyenuga - 108' )
  • 12 Maybury Booked (Haber - 93' )
  • 18 McCracken
  • 04 Morris
  • 07 Millar (Croft - 70' )
  • 08 Davidson Booked
  • 10 Craig
  • 11 Sheridan Booked
  • 21 Sandaza

Substitutes

  • 01 Enckelman
  • 09 Croft
  • 22 Oyenuga
  • 23 Haber
  • 46 Keatings

Heart of Midlothian

  • 30 MacDonald
  • 03 Grainger Booked (McGowan - 73' )
  • 06 Webster
  • 13 Obua (Templeton - 64' )
  • 26 Zaliukas
  • 02 Hamill Booked
  • 19 Skacel Booked
  • 21 Taouil (Suso Santana - 81' Booked )
  • 31 Mrowiec
  • 10 Elliott
  • 27 Robinson

Substitutes

  • 28 Ridgers
  • 17 McGowan
  • 07 Suso Santana
  • 12 Templeton
  • 22 Smith
Ref: Winter
Att: 3,404

Match Stats

Shots

7 8

On target

3 3

Corners

10 9

Fouls

5 12

Live Text Commentary

120:00 +1:28

The match has ended.

120:00 +0:40

Stephen Elliott is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Liam Craig.

117:50

Andy Webster gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Cillian Sheridan. Free kick crossed left-footed by Murray Davidson from right wing, Andy Webster makes a clearance.

116:25 Goal scored

Goal - Marius Zaliukas - St J'stone 1 - 2 Hearts Marius Zaliukas finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the top right corner of the goal. St Johnstone 1-2 Hearts.

115:49

Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Hamill.

115:27

David Templeton takes a shot. Liam Craig gets a block in.

114:04

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Templeton by Lee Croft. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Jamie Hamill, Liam Craig makes a clearance.

113:17

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Hamill, Cillian Sheridan makes a clearance.

112:57

The referee blows for offside against Stephen Elliott. Lee Croft restarts play with the free kick.

112:14

Stephen Elliott produces a left-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.

111:01

The ball is sent over by Suso Santana, clearance by David McCracken.

107:51 Substitution

Substitution Kudus Oyenuga is brought on as a substitute for Steven Anderson.

105:01

The game restarts for the second half of extra time.

102:32

Stephen Elliott is caught offside. Free kick taken by Alan Mannus.

100:09

Outswinging corner from left by-line crossed in by Lee Croft, Francisco Sandaza produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post. Inswinging corner taken by Lee Croft from the left by-line, clearance made by Andy Webster.

99:06

Alan Mannus restarts play with the free kick.

99:06 Booking

Booking Rudi Skacel is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

99:00

Unfair challenge on Lee Croft by Rudi Skacel results in a free kick.

97:13

Stephen Elliott challenges Frazer Wright unfairly and gives away a free kick. David McCracken takes the free kick.

96:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Marius Zaliukas on Francisco Sandaza. Indirect free kick taken by Liam Craig.

94:09

Liam Craig takes the inswinging corner, Marius Zaliukas manages to make a clearance.

93:00 Substitution

Substitution Alan Maybury goes off and Marcus Haber comes on.

92:29

Effort from the edge of the area by Francisco Sandaza goes wide of the right-hand post.

90:00 +6:00

Normal time is of over and the game goes into extra time.

90:00 +4:32 Booking

Booking Jamie Hamill is given a yellow card.

90:00 +4:16 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Hamill - St J'stone 1 - 1 Hearts Jamie Hamill scores a placed penalty. St Johnstone 1-1 Hearts.

90:00 +3:34 Booking

Booking Suso Santana is cautioned.

90:00 +3:24 Booking

Booking Alan Maybury receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +2:09

Alan Maybury gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Suso Santana.

90:00 +1:18

Suso Santana produces a cross, save made by Alan Mannus.

89:29

Jamie Hamill takes the inswinging corner, Liam Craig makes a clearance.

88:26

Inswinging corner taken by Jamie Hamill, clearance made by Frazer Wright.

87:24

Free kick awarded for a foul by Rudi Skacel on Murray Davidson. Alan Mannus takes the indirect free kick.

85:18

Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Stephen Elliott goes wide of the right-hand upright.

83:10

Assist by Lee Croft.

83:10 Goal scored

Goal - Murray Davidson - St J'stone 1 - 0 Hearts Murray Davidson scores a goal from inside the box to the top right corner of the goal. St Johnstone 1-0 Hearts.

80:48

Alan Mannus takes the free kick.

80:48 Substitution

Substitution Suso Santana comes on in place of Mehdi Taouil.

80:48

Stephen Elliott is caught offside.

79:09

The assistant referee flags for offside against Lee Croft. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.

76:34

The referee blows for offside against Cillian Sheridan. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

75:52

The referee blows for offside against Lee Croft. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

74:19

Unfair challenge on Stephen Elliott by Liam Craig results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jamie Hamill, save by Alan Mannus.

73:37

Francisco Sandaza is ruled offside. Jamie MacDonald takes the indirect free kick.

72:42

Inswinging corner taken by Lee Croft from the left by-line, Ryan McGowan manages to make a clearance.

72:12 Substitution

Substitution Ryan McGowan replaces Daniel Grainger.

71:53

Effort from the edge of the box by Scott Robinson goes wide of the right-hand upright.

70:40

Jody Morris concedes a free kick for a foul on Mehdi Taouil. Scott Robinson restarts play with the free kick.

69:38 Substitution

Substitution Chris Millar goes off and Lee Croft comes on.

68:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jamie Hamill on Francisco Sandaza. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Liam Craig, clearance made by Andy Webster.

68:41

The ball is crossed by Mehdi Taouil, save by Alan Mannus.

66:09

The ball is sent over by Liam Craig, save by Jamie MacDonald.

65:33

Stephen Elliott takes a shot. Save made by Alan Mannus.

63:59

Unfair challenge on Jody Morris by Scott Robinson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by David McCracken.

63:12 Substitution

Substitution David Templeton replaces David Obua.

62:51

Cillian Sheridan is caught offside. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

61:57

Centre by Francisco Sandaza.

61:22

The assistant referee signals for offside against Cillian Sheridan. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

58:08

The official flags Stephen Elliott offside. Alan Mannus takes the free kick.

56:49

Jody Morris fouled by Scott Robinson, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Liam Craig from right wing, clearance made by Andy Webster.

55:57

Effort from the edge of the area by Chris Millar goes wide of the right-hand upright.

54:45

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jamie Hamill on Liam Craig. Alan Mannus takes the indirect free kick.

51:43

The ball is swung over by Scott Robinson, clearance made by Steven Anderson.

48:46

Corner taken by Daniel Grainger.

46:09

Corner taken by Jamie Hamill from the right by-line, comfortable save by Alan Mannus.

45:37

A cross is delivered by Liam Craig, clearance made by Andy Webster.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +6:52 Half time

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

45:00 +0:53

Liam Craig takes the indirect free kick.

45:00 +0:53 Booking

Booking Cillian Sheridan receives a caution.

45:00 +0:42 Booking

Booking Murray Davidson goes into the referee's book.

45:00 +0:03 Booking

Booking Booking for Daniel Grainger.

44:46

Daniel Grainger gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Cillian Sheridan.

43:19

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Liam Craig, clearance made by Andy Webster.

40:18

The ball is crossed by Liam Craig, clearance made by Andy Webster.

36:52

Steven Anderson delivers the ball, Jamie MacDonald makes a save.

35:45

The referee blows for offside. Alan Mannus takes the indirect free kick.

34:38

The assistant referee flags for offside against Cillian Sheridan. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.

28:09

Liam Craig takes a corner.

27:55

Liam Craig sends in a cross, Andy Webster makes a clearance.

26:35

Shot by Rudi Skacel. Save made by Alan Mannus.

25:56

Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Hamill, clearance by Alan Maybury.

25:26

Cillian Sheridan takes a shot. Comfortable save by Jamie MacDonald.

22:34

Jody Morris takes a shot from long range which goes wide of the right-hand post.

21:58

The assistant referee flags for offside against David Obua. Indirect free kick taken by Alan Mannus.

19:03

Corner from right by-line taken by Daniel Grainger. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Daniel Grainger, clearance made by Cillian Sheridan.

18:35

Liam Craig sends in a cross, Jamie MacDonald makes a save.

17:04

Corner taken left-footed by Liam Craig, Marius Zaliukas makes a clearance.

15:10

A cross is delivered by Liam Craig, Andy Webster manages to make a clearance.

13:07

Rudi Skacel concedes a free kick for a foul on Francisco Sandaza. Free kick crossed left-footed by Liam Craig from left channel.

11:24

Unfair challenge on Rudi Skacel by Murray Davidson results in a free kick. Strike comes in from Daniel Grainger from the free kick.

6:30

Corner taken by Liam Craig from the right by-line, David Obua makes a clearance.

5:34

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Liam Craig from the right by-line, Mehdi Taouil makes a clearance.

4:38

Cillian Sheridan takes a shot. Jamie MacDonald makes a save. Corner from the right by-line taken by Chris Millar, clearance made by David Obua.

0:22

Foul by Rudi Skacel on Murray Davidson, free kick awarded. Alan Mannus takes the indirect free kick.

0:00

The match begins.

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