St Mirren were beaten 4-0 at Tynecastle on our return from the international break. Kenneth Vargas opened the scoring on 15 minutes before goals from Daniel Oyegoke, James Wilson and Blair Spittal in the second-half gave the hosts a win in Neil Critchley's first match as Head Coach.
Fresh from signing a two-year contract extension yesterday, Greg Kiltie was handed his first start of the season. Scott Tanser returned from his suspension, while Oisin Smyth was handed a start as Stephen Robinson made three changes from the side that lost to Dundee United before the international break.
Hearts started brightly in new boss Critchley's bow, having the bulk of the possession in the opening stages of the game. But it was Kiltie who had the first attempt on goal for Saints with just five minutes on the clock. The forward was under pressure from Jambos defender Kye Rowles and snatched at the chance as he sent the effort wide from 20 yards.
The hosts would hit the front 10 minutes later when Vargas opened the scoring after a neat bit of play. The Costa Rican dummied a pass from Blair Spittal and was on hand in the box to meet Lawrence Shankland's flicked ball over the top. Alex Gogic was at full stretch to try and nod the ball away from the path of Vargas but couldn't get enough on it to stop it finding the forward who finished beyond Ellery Balcombe.
Chances were few and far between for Saints, but the Buddies weren't far from drawing level on 37 minutes when Tanser swung a corner deep to the back post where it met the head of Killian Phillips who nodded wide of the target.
The manager made two changes at the break with Elvis Bwomono and Dennis Adeniran replacing Phillips and Smyth, but the hosts would double their lead just two minutes after the restart when Daniel Oyegoke found himself in space around 20 yards from goal and curled his strike into the back of the net.
A triple change just after the hour mark saw 16-year-old Evan Mooney handed his St Mirren debut when he replaced Toyosi Olusanya. Kiltie and Kevin Van Veen also made way for Roland Idowu and Mikael Mandron.
16-year-old Evan Mooney came on for his Saints debut (Image: John Millar)
Hearts added a third in the closing minutes when James Wilson scored from close range. Dhanda's free-kick found Frankie Kent and the defender forced a header back across goal. Saints couldn't deal with the loose ball, with Gogic and Mandron colliding as they both attempted to head clear, which allowed substitute Wilson to bundle home.
The hosts rounded off a disappointing afternoon for the Buddies when they added a fourth in injury time. Spittal slotting low into the corner of the net from the edge of the area.
Full-Time: Hearts 4-0 St Mirren
St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne, Tanser, Phillips (Bwomono 46), Smyth (Adeniran 46), O'Hara (c), Olusanya (Mooney 61), Van Veen (Mandron 61), Kiltie (Idowu 61)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Brown, Boyd-Munce, Scott
Hearts: Gordon, Oyegoke (Forrester 65), Kent, Rowles, Penrice, Spittal, Boateng, Baningime (Devlin 77), Dhanda (McKay 87) , Vargas (Wilson 78), Shankland (Forrest 65)
Subs Not Used: Clark, Kingsley, Halkett, Boyce
Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: George Calder
VAR: David Dickinson
