St Johnstone 0-2 Hearts

Ryan Stevenson's late strike ensured a Hearts victory over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

Collin Samuel squandered a chance for the home side before the break.

But Hearts broke the deadlock after 64 minutes, with Kevin Kyle firing home after a David Templeton free-kick struck a hand inside the box.

Stevenson made sure of the points when he latched on to a fine through ball from Calum Elliot to score despite hints of offside.

Victory lifts Hearts into third spot in the Scottish Premier League, with the Perth side's continued slump leaving them third from bottom.

Jamie Adams had returned from his loan at Dundee to replace injured defender Dave Mackay as St Johnstone looked to end a run of three straight league defeats for the loss of 10 goals.

Hearts were unchanged after their midweek win over Celtic, although Suso was missing from the bench after the winger was forced to undergo knee surgery.

Kyle required early touchline treatment on a cut nose after an apparent collision with Michael Duberry, but the Hearts forward was able to continue after a short delay.

The Scotland squad striker did force the first save of the contest but was unable to put enough power onto his headed effort from Ian Black's cross to trouble goalkeeper Peter Enckelman.

St Johnstone forward Samuel claimed a foul against Adrian Mrowiec as he tried to reach a ball over the top.

But, despite the Hearts defender seemingly pulling him back and denying a potential goalscoring opportunity, nothing was given by referee Mike Tumilty.

Samuel had nobody to blame but himself moments later as he swung wildly at a shooting chance set up by Duberry's muscular play inside the area and fired the ball badly wide.

Hearts were the more enterprising side early on and Stephen Elliott should have done better with an angled drive blazed over the crossbar with an unmarked Kyle wanting for a pass in the middle.

St Johnstone were presented with a real chance in the 28th minute when Duberry's ball was only half-cleared by Ruben Palazuelos with goalkeeper Marian Kello drawn out of position behind him, but Liam Craig volleyed wide of the empty net.

Eggert Jonsson's fine run and cross set up midfielder Rudi Skacel in the 43rd minute, but his low effort was well held by Enckelman to preserve the deadlock.

St Johnstone made a change at the break, Peter MacDonald on for Craig, and he headed wide a Cleveland Taylor cross.

Hearts were then awarded a 64th-minute penalty for handball, seemingly against Adams, from a Templeton free-kick and went ahead via Kyle's emphatic finish.

Hearts almost doubled their lead in the 68th minute when Skacel set up Elliott for a fierce strike which was pushed wide by Enckelman.

Saints introduced Sam Parkin for Samuel and he was soon involved, forcing a fine save from Kello after MacDonald's pass.

The home side kept battling to rescue at least a point, but it was Hearts who came closest late on with a Kyle header wide.

Then, in the final minute of stoppage time, Elliott's searching pass found substitute Stevenson, who finished well with a low drive.

Taken from the BBC