Hearts climb above St Johnstone with Tynecastle success

Posted Sunday, January 27, 2019 by PA

Marcus Godinho and Callumn Morrison found the net in the second half as Hearts claimed a hard-fought 2-0 Ladbrokes Premiership victory over St Johnstone.

The hosts edge a tight opening 45 minutes and went close with a Jake Mulraney effort that hit the outside of the post.

But an improved display after the restart yielded the breakthrough strike from Godinho in the 52nd minute, before substitute Morrison found the net in added time.

Saints offered little in the final third and, despite briefly putting Hearts under pressure as they chased an equaliser, failed to register a single shot on target in the entire game.

Victory sees Hearts climb back above St Johnstone into fifth place in the table.

The mental scars of Hearts’ midweek home defeat to Dundee appeared to be still evident in a tentative start by the hosts.

There were no such confidence issues for Saints, with the visitors having won their last six matches on their travels, keeping as many clean sheets in the process.

The first opening of note came after 11 minutes when a deflected Mulraney cross spun to Godinho at the back post but the wing-back’s header was pushed over by Zander Clark.

Saints offered little in the final third in the first half and were aggrieved they were not awarded a free-kick as Hearts captain Christophe Berra and Matthew Kennedy came together in a chase for Ross Callachan’s pass.

Another Hearts attack came to nothing in the 28th minute despite showing promise.

Steven Naismith and Olly Lee both dithered on the ball and failed to get a shot away before Olly Bozanic’s tame effort was blocked.

The hosts conjured their best chance of the half in the 34th minute when Djoum slid a perfectly weighted-pass through to Mulraney in the box but the winger’s low left-footed drive struck the legs of Clark before hitting the outside of the post.

Hearts made a lively start to the second period but the frame of the goal came to the visitors’ rescue for a second time in the 48th minute.

Berra’s simple header forward created problems as Naismith set off in a foot race with Jason Kerr.

The ball broke to Sean Clare and the midfielder’s left-footed strike came back off the far post.

However, Hearts did break the deadlock four minutes later.

John Souttar lifted an inch-perfect pass into the box and Godinho brought the ball under control before firing a low effort past Clark from 12 yards.

Saints began the search for a equaliser and boss Tommy Wright’s response was to use his full quota of three substitutions in quick succession.

A period of pressure came to nothing and Hearts sealed the victory in injury-time with a counter-attacking move that culminated in Morrison firing home from inside the area.