Jefferies content despite Hearts' failure to see off ten-man Saints

But Jim Jefferies, who is usually happy to voice any frustrations he feels, was not unduly annoyed or w orried by this result. Indeed, given the players unavailable to him through injury or suspension, not to mention those not fit enough to start the match, the Tynecastle manager was considerably more encouraged than he normally would be by such a result.

Time will tell if Jefferies' optimism is misplaced, but his assertion that his team will be stronger once Kevin Kyle and Stephen Elliott are match-fit seems undeniable. The pair came off the bench to make their competitive debuts in the second half, and came within a few inches of combining for the winning goal, being denied only by a breathtaking headed clearance from Michael Duberry. After the inability to find a consistent and reliable striker last season, the two new boys look like making a real difference.

Of those unable to play any role here, the most vital performer could be Eggert Jonsson. Jefferies has hinted he does not necessarily see the young Icelander as a defensive player, and it will be fascinating to see how Jonsson fares if he is given a more advanced role. The alternative would be for him to slot in behind Ian Black or Ryan Stevenson, providing a central solidity which would allow them more licence to venture forward.

Either way, how to fill that advanced midfield position with someone capable of supporting the strikers and also weighing in with some goals of his own appears to be the key question for Jefferies over the coming weeks. He had a ready-made answer to that question, of course, which was to re-sign Paul Hartley, but since that deal fell through the solution may now have to be drawn from his current squad.

Still, while the return of Jonsson, Stevenson and David Obua will give Jefferies far more options, the fact remains that Saturday's line-up did what would normally have been enough to win.

Hearts had the ball in the net within the first couple of minutes through a David Templeton shot, and although the winger was flagged offside, it was an indication of how swiftly they had gained a firm upper hand.

St Johnstone were forced into a d efensive change midway through the first half when Danny Grainger was stretchered off after colliding with a post. The full-back had dived in towards his own goal to head a Craig Thomson free-kick for a corner, and some of his team-mates were angered by what they thought was a push from Elliot just before the collision.

The Hearts player said later he had apologised to Grainger, who sustained knee ligament damage. "It was an accident and kind of unfortunate," Elliot stated. St Johnstone reorganised by moving Liam Craig to left-back and bringing on Cleveland Taylor into midfield.

Hearts maintained their pressure as half-time approached, and got the breakthrough in the 44th minute when Elliot dived to head in a low cross from the left by Lee Wallace. That should have given the home team a platform on which to build after the break, but a lapse of concentration allowed St Johnstone to equalise within a minute. Taylor was allowed far too much room down the left, and his cross was headed in by Sam Parkin.

The second half was more evenly balanced, but it could have tipped decisively in Hearts' favour when Steven Anderson was shown a straight red card for clattering into Suso Santana. Instead, the home team approached the remaining 17 minutes with a certain desperation and lack of ideas, playing as if they were a goal behind rather than a man to the good.

Their pressure might have paid off, nonetheless, when a cross by Arvydas Novikovas was headed back towards goal by Kyle. The ball appeared to be net-bound, and Elliott was following up to make sure, but Duberry got there first to clear the danger.

Taken from the Scotsman