Hearts Battle To Third Straight Win
Heart of Midlothian made it three successive wins in the Scottish Premiership as league action resumed following the most recent international break.
The Macklin Motors-backed side had gone into the break buoyed by wins against Livingston and Motherwell to maintain a position inside the top four in the table, although defeat to Rangers had ended hopes of success in the League Cup at the semi-final stage.
Hearts came out of the blocks quickly when the match against St Johnstone – managed by former Hearts boss Craig Levein – kicked off, putting the visitors under early pressure as they looked to try and open the scoring.
St Johnstone grew into the game through the remainder of the first half but it was Hearts who broke the deadline after the break as Lawrence Shankland maintained his recent run of form with sixth goal in as many games – deflecting a shot from Liam Boyce into the net.
Although the visitors had chances to equalise, Hearts could also have gone further clear before the final whistle as the Jambos secured a third straight league win for the first time in more than a year.
It means Hearts remain fourth in the table, two points down on third-placed St Mirren.