Source: PA
Skacel treble sinks Saints
Rudi Skacel's hat-trick helped Hearts claim a 3-0 victory - their first home win of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season - to deepen St Mirren's gloom.
The Czech Republic international's cultured left-foot was the source for two first-half goals - the first after a minute and 14 seconds and the second a curling free-kick after 24 minutes - and he struck a third in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of the game.
Saints had few chances of note and now have five points from nine matches this term and are still seeking their first points away from Paisley.
Skacel has now scored four times in four appearances since returning to Hearts for a second spell.
There were suggestions Skacel's recruitment last month was at the behest of Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov, rather than at the request of manager Jim Jefferies.
But Jefferies will surely be a happy man after Skacel, who helped Hearts win the Scottish Cup in 2006 before departing for Southampton, earned a second straight win and a first win from five home games this term.
