Watch best of the action as Hearts thrash St Mirren

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

Hearts recorded their first Scottish Premiership win of the season in new head coach Neil Critchley's first game in charge against beleaguered St Mirren.

Lawrence Shankland's smart edge-of-the-area flick freed Kenneth Vargas to give the hosts their first domestic lead of the season with a powerful strike.

Moments into the second half the hosts strung together a sequence of passes that shifted play back and forth across the pitch before Daniel Oyegoke curled a sensational effort into the top corner from 20 yards.

Stephen Robinson's side were condemned to their third top-flight loss in a row after 17-year-old James Wilson's late tap-in and Blair Spittal's curling effort secured a much-needed win for Hearts.

The hosts are now in second-bottom, above city rivals Hibernian on goal difference.

After dominating the opening stages, Lawrence Shankland found Vargas with a smart outside-of-the-boot flick and the Costa Rica international fired past Ellery Balcombe with great composure.

Killian Phillips missed St Mirren's best chance before the interval with a header and, moments after the second half started, Hearts doubled their advantage through Oyegoke's magnificent attempt.

Balcombe was spared from embarrassment as his attempted clearance hit Spittal, and then cannoned back off himself and trundled towards an empty goal, recovering in the nick of time to clear.

Despite Hearts' dominance, St Mirren did fight their way back into the contest but were unable to fashion many goalscoring opportunities.

A late cross forced Craig Gordon to make a brave, low dive at Roland Idowu’s feet before Hearts doubled their tally with two late goals thanks to Wilson's tap-in and Spittal's curving effort.

Critchley finds Dhanda and Spittal solution

Summer signings Yan Dhanda and Spittal had yet to bring their form of last season to Gorgie but there were signs here that things are changing.

In the first half they were constantly involved, with Dhanda going close with a low, driven effort and Spittal showing multiple smart touches around the box when combining with Shankland and Vargas.

Indeed, Dhanda registered the games highest total of passes in the final third with 18, with Spittal contributing 13.

James Penrice and Oyegoke were pivotal on the overlap too, often dragging defenders away and giving the attacking midfielders more space and time.

Pre-match, Critchley said he would pick a formation to suit the players, and while it may be a small sample size he has certainly started well.

St Mirren’s defensive lapses cost them

Under Robinson, St Mirren are usually thought of as defensively sound and able to create a few clear-cut chances every game.

They have now lost seven of their last 10 in all competitions and have been routinely punished when falling behind early.

They have failed to win any of their last seven in the league when conceding first, and have now conceded three goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half - more than any other top-flight side this season.

In addition, they have conceded nine first-half goals in nine games - no team has shipped more in the Premiership this season.

While these stats point towards a loss in concentration defensively, their attacking players are not bailing them out at the other end of the pitch.

They have failed to score in three of their nine league games and perhaps most alarmingly, didn't register a shot on target at Tynecastle.

What they said

Hearts: Neil Critchley 'dreamed of clean sheet and few goals'

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley: "When you go to sleep, you dream of a few goals and a clean sheet.

"I’m made up for the players, they've been really receptive to me this week and the work that we've done. I think getting the first goal was massive.

"I'm delighted for the supporters to go home happy. It's been a great day all around."

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "There weren't enough people who took responsibility.

"Hearts didn't have to beat us as we beat ourselves. We made stupid decisions, poor decisions.

"The performance is not acceptable and it's on me. Arguably is one of the worst performances since I've been here, and it's not acceptable. It's been the way the last eight or nine games."

St Mirren made 'stupid decisions' in Hearts defeat

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