An inspired substitution saw Andrius Velicka wrap up the three points at Love Street after goals by Andrew Driver and Michael Stewart had put Hearts two ahead before Corcoran pulled one back for Saints.

Hearts made four changes from the side that beat Dunfermline at Tynecastle in midweek. Steve Banks was ruled out prior to kick off with a stomach bug, so a debut was given to Frenchman Anthony Basso who joined in August from Auxerre. Injury ruled out Lee Wallace, Tall came back in for Kancelskis and Audrius Ksanavicius started ahead of Calum Elliot who had to make do with a place on the bench.

Hearts almost took the lead straight from kick off at St Mirren Park when the ball landed at the feet of Christian Nade from Michael Stewart, but the French striker was unable to keep his shot on target.

The first 20 minutes of the match were lively, with both teams having ample opportunity to open the scoring. Nade again could have got on the score sheet after a Michael Stewart free kick found him on the edge of the box, this time he blasted his shot wide.

St Mirren found some success early on through Chris Burchill down the right hand side but St Mirren were not able to capitalise by getting someone to finish off some of the on-loan Conventry star's excellent balls into the box.

Michael Stewart was keen to lead by example and linked up well with Nade to create an opening for himself. Just when he had lined up the shot Gary Mason popped up to challenge Stewart and put the ball out.

Hearts debutant Anthony Basso was not called into action until the 20th minute of the match when a flicked header from Billy Mehmet forced the first save from Hearts stand in goalkeeper. St Mirren were growing in confidence as a result of their early success and almost broke the deadlock on 25 minutes when a Franco Miranda free-kick found the head of defender Will Haining who could not keep the attempt on target.

The Edinburgh outfit seemed unable to figure out how to thwart St Mirren's attacking threat and were forced to dig in and match Gus Macpherson's men until they could find a way through.

Hearts did step up a gear, though, and they did pressure the St Mirren penalty area when an Andrew Driver corner found Eggert Jonsson on the edge on the box. Just as Jonsson unleashed the shot Haining got in the way to deflect the ball over the goal and out for another corner.

This time the resultant corner caught everyone out and in a bid to clear the ball St Mirren laid it up in front of the on coming Andrew Driver who smashed the ball into the bottom corner. The winger has scored four goals for Hearts this season but this was definitely the sweetest and made him the club's top goalscorer.

The goal came against the run of play but sparked Hearts into life and made for a fast paced finish to the first half. St Mirren would feel aggrieved that a penalty decisione went against them: in particular an Eggert Jonsson challenge on Stephen O'Donnell.

Hearts went into the break with a single goal lead because they took the chance when it came their way.

Hearts introduced Calum Elliott at half time in place of Audrius Ksanavicius, but the start to the second half was much the same as the end of the first. A frenetic pace from sides ensured end-to-end action for much of the first 15 minutes. Hearts survived a scare when Basso came out to claim the ball and made a mess of it. The Hearts defence were on hand to clear any danger.

Andrew Driver found himself with the perfect chance to put Hearts two ahead when he got the break of the ball and charged towards the St Mirren goal, Driver looked to have done all the hard work by rounding keeper Smith but then seemed to drift too wide to get the shot on target.

As a result it was cleared but only as far as the on coming Stewart who took a great touch to round Van Zanten who brought him down. Hearts were awarded the penalty, their third in four games. Stewart was always going to take the penalty he had earned. He swept the ball into the bottom right corner and saluted the Hearts fans behind the goal.

Anthony Basso was again called into action when Burchill fizzed in a shot, the Frenchman showing great composure to take the shot cleanly and end the imminent danger. Basso could have turned villain shortly after when he inexplicably came out of his box to clear the ball and ended up getting the ball caught under his feet, but he recovered and cleared the ball - just.

St Mirren probably got what they deserved on 78 minutes when a Burchill corner found Mark Corcoran, who lept above the oncoming Basso to nod the ball home.

Hearts however only had one thing in mind and that was to wrap up the points. Nade was replaced for Velicka and in his first touch of the ball he took the ball from virtually the half way line all the way to the St Mirren penalty area and then, at what seemed an impossible angle, he shot the ball under Chris Smith in the Saints goal and into the far corner of the net.

St Mirren tried in vain to try and pull another goal back but it had just not been their day in front of goal.

Hearts tightened things up in the dying minutes with Zaliukas coming off the bench to shut up shop. The Jambos headed back along the M8 with a vital three points but will be most happy with the way that they dug their heels in and got the result against an incredibly tough St Mirren side.

St Mirren: Smith; Van Zanten, Mason, Haining (Kean 47), Potter, Murray, Mehmet ( McGinn 69), Miranda, O'Donnell (Corcoran 60), McCay, Birchall. Subs not used: Howard, Brittain, Brady, Docherty. Bookings: Potter, McCay.

Hearts: Basso; Neilson, Tall, Berra, Goncalves; Kingston, Stewart (Zaliukas 90), Jonsson, Driver; Ksanavicius (Elliot 45); Nade (Velicka 82). Subs not used: Kurskis, Kancelskis, Ivaskevicius, Palazuelos. Bookings: Ksanavicius, Stewart.

Referee: John Underhill

Top man: Michael Stewart