Penalty earns Hearts second win on trot

JAMIE HAMILL’S penalty gave Hearts back-to-back wins for the first time this season as they overcame 10-man St Mirren last night in an absorbing Scottish Premiership contest.

The Buddies scored after just 30 seconds through Steven Thompson, but the hosts levelled two minutes later courtesy of Callum Paterson and gained the upper hand in the 52nd minute when Hamill converted from 12 yards after Marc McAusland had been shown a straight red card for fouling Dale Carrick.

Despite going a man d ow n , the Buddies continued to threaten and Thompson passed up two more great chances in front of goal but the visitors could not find an equaliser.

The win moved bottom side Hearts 16 points behind Partick Thistle with a League Cup semi-final against Inverness to come on Sunday.

Delighted Hearts boss Gary Locke said: “I thought the character was there in abundance again, we’ve shown it all season.

“It has been a very difficult season for us but I have been over the moon with the way the players have performed.”

Buddies boss Danny Lennon was angered by the penalty decision, claiming there was no contact.

“It was a big, big decision that has cost us,” he said. Attendance: 12,422 Hearts: MacDonald, McGowan (McGhee 84), McKay, Wilson, McHattie, Nicholson ( King 76), Hamill, Robinson, Smith, Carrick (Oliver 82), Paterson. Subs not used: Ridgers, Tapping, Beith.

St Mirren: Kello, Naismith, McAusland, McGregor, Kelly, Campbell (Wylde 65), Goodwin, Newton, McGinn, Thompson, McGowan (van Zanten 90). Subs not used: Reilly, Brady, Grainger, Dilo, Declan Hughes.

Referee: Steven McLean.