St Johnstone 2 Hearts 0

SAINTS used to send out an SOS every time they got into the box.

Now they have got the SAS their goal-scoring problems are a thing of the past.

Blackburn thrived off Sutton and Shearer the year they won the Premiership in 1995.

Now Derek McInnes is reaping the rewards of playing Sandaza and Sheridan up top.

The pair combined yesterday to rip Hearts to bits and give the Perth side their first home win of the season.

It was a great team display, a day when every player fought for the shirt.

It was also an afternoon when Saints' new-look strike partnership proved just how deadly they could be.

Fran Sandaza set up Cillian Sheridan for goals either side of half-time. They were clinical and clever with perfect passes followed by fine finishes.

For Sheridan it was his first goals since returning to Saints.

For Sandaza it shows just how deadly a partnership he's establishing with the former Celtic man.

Saints midfielder Chris Millar loves seeing the two tearing defences to shreds.

Last season Millar grew frustrated as Saints struggled to buy a goal.

Now those worries seem to have gone and Milar said: "Both players up front are doing really well. It's great to see. We've got a real edge in attack and you can see both of them enjoy playing with each other.

"Cillian took both of his goals really well. They were great finishes.

"The balls from Fran made them as well so it's great to see both of them working so well together.

"The team is doing really well now. We have kicked on from beating Celtic at Parkhead and got our first home win.

"A lot of teams can dip after a result like that, but we've made the most of it.

"We're now up to joint fourth and just quietly going about our business. Everyone is enjoying it."

It was Millar who almost gave Saints the lead after 10 minutes.

Kevin Moon cushioned to his midfielder partner on the edge of the box, but his angled drive whistled inches past.

Nine minutes later they threatened again, this time Liam Craig smashing a free-kick after Sandaza was hauled back by Andy Webster.

Jambos goalkeeper Jamie McDonald reacted well though and pulled off a solid stop.

In 30 minutes the home side took the lead.

Sandaza slipped a brilliant ball through to Sheridan and he steadied himself before lashing into the top corner.

The goal was good and the celebration better.

Sheridan has spent the last few months amusing his army of followers on Twitter getting involved in the 'planking' craze.

From doing it on top of doors, golf carts and INSIDE washing machines, Sheridan marked his first goal for the season by planking on the McDiarmid Park pitch.

After the opener it was all St Johnstone. They were having a field day against a Jambos side that looks like the confidence has been ripped out of it.

Ten minutes before the break Sheridan then turned creator, jinking into the box and laying the ball on a plate for Craig.

The bottom corner was begging to be hit, but Craig was on his weaker right foot and sent it bobbling wide.

Danny Grainger whipped in a corner from the left, but Ryan Stevenson could only plant his header wide as Hearts wasted a rare chance.

The Jambos hooked Andy Webster and threw on David Templeton at half-time to try and inject some life into their side.

It was no use though. This was Saints' day and it was soon game over.

Sandaza released Sheridan again with an excellent slide-rule pass. The Irish striker accelerated, left keeper McDonald rooted to the spot and rolled home his second.

Hearts then almost gave themselves a lifeline after 75 minutes.

Mehdi Taouil tried his luck from range, only for Peter Enckelman to block. David Templeton followed up with a mis-hit shot that looped into the air. Stephen Elliot pounced, but his flicked header was clawed off the line by the Saints keeper.

Perth boss McInnes was delighted at the way his side bounced back from their shock League Cup KO by St Mirren to end their long wait for a home win. McInnes said: "I thought we were dogged at the back and clinical up front.

"It was a good day's work from the side. To get any points in the SPL is always going to be hard.

"Hearts are the best-equipped side to finish third in this league so I know how much it means to beat them.

"I was really pleased with the two up front. We know they are a threat.

"It's been well-documented how hard Sandaza has been working for the team, but Cillian is doing his bit as well.

"The beauty with him is we've worked with him before. We know what he's all about and that helps.

"We had problems scoring last season but that has all gone now. Everyone has that confidence and it's really making a big difference this season."