Isma may yet face Rangers as Hearts lodge appeal

Hearts have lodged an appeal against Esmael Goncalves’ red card at Kilmarnock after reviewing video footage of the incident.

The Edinburgh club believe their Portuguese striker was wrongly dismissed for an altercation with the home side’s Kirk Broadfoot during their 1-0 victory at Rugby Park on Saturday afternoon.

If the appeal is successful, Goncalves, pictured, could be available to face Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

He scored the only goal of the match in Ayrshire before being sent off along with Broadfoot midway through the second half.

The Kilmarnock centre-back appeared to pull Goncalves’ hair after the players collided and then fell to the ground, and Broadfoot was then seen holding his face.

Both men were ordered off for violent conduct by referee Stephen Finnie.

Hearts are now attempting to have Goncalves’ red card overturned by submitting a formal appeal to the Scottish Football Association.

Meanwhile, Liam Smith has extended his Hearts contract until 2019 and joined St Mirren on loan until next summer.

The 21-year-old defender heads to Paisley to augment his first-team experiences in the Championship after 38 senior appearances in maroon.

Predominantly a rightback, he remains highly regarded by Riccarton coaching staff, hence the deal to extend his contract by 12 months.

Smith’s existing deal was due to expire next summer but he is now tied to Tynecastle until 2019.

The arrival of Northern Ireland internationalist Michael Smith, plus the emergence of teenager Jamie Brandon, would have left Smith with limited game time this season. He is expected to play regularly at St Mirren under former Hearts coach Jack Ross.