Heart of Midlothian 2-0 St. Johnstone

From Hearts Media at Tynecastle.

Hearts took a step closer to Europa League football thanks to a 2-0 win over St Johnstone on Sunday afternoon which enabled them to leapfrog the Perth side into fifth place with just one game remaining.

Rudi Skacel's sixteenth goal of the season handed Hearts a deserved first half lead before Andy Webster sealed the win with a bullet header shortly after the restart.

Paulo Sergio made three changes to the side that lost to Motherwell midweek, the most notable taking place between the sticks as Mark Ridgers deputised for the un-well Jamie MacDonald.

Elsewhere Mehdi Taouil made way for Andrew Driver whilst Rudi Skacel returned to partner Stephen Elliott in attack for the final home game of the season.

With cup final places at stake, the Jambos were keen to impress as Stephen Elliott raced clear of the Saints defence within thirty seconds of kick off; his cross however was intercepted before it could find Skacel on five yards.

The intent was there, however, and Sergio' men continued to pin back the visitors during the opening ten minutes as both Driver and Elliott put Saints keeper Alan Mannus to the test. A Jody Morris snapshot, meanwhile, was the only response from the Saints.

Hearts grew stronger has the half progressed and deservedly took the lead on twenty minutes. Ian Black found Ryan McGowan on the right, the young Australian ran at full back Callum Davidson before finding Skacel on ten yards. The club's top scorer calmly guided the ball into the bottom left corner to notch up his sixteenth strike of the season.

The Czech was unlucky not to grab his second shortly after as he fired wide from close range after Alan Mannus produced a spectacular save to keep a Webster header at bay.

The Saints registered their first chance on the half hour mark, Steven Anderson leaping to head a corner goal wards but Ian Black was well position on the left post to prevent the visitors from levelling.

Marcus Haber then thought he had equalised shortly before the interval but referee Steven McLean quickly ruled it out after David McCracken had strayed offside during the build-up. Ridgers then produced a fine save as he leapt to tip a Callum Davidson shot over the bar as the Saints enjoyed their best period of the game.

The Saints looked sharper after the restart as they pushed forward with far greater urgency; Jody Morris forcing a fine save from Ridgers with a powerful thirty yard effort.

Sergio was then forced into a change on 54 minutes as Darren Barr picked up a knock and, following treatment on the sidelines, was replaced by Scott Robinson.

Hearts soon regained their attacking momentum however and duly doubled their lead shortly before the hour mark. Danny Grainger 's perfectly weighted free kick from the right found Webster on six yards who leapt to head home his fourth goal of the season.

Steve Lomas responded by making two changes, one of which included former Hibs striker Derek Riordan whom entered the field to a chorus of boos. The striker almost silenced the crowd when the ball fell to him on six yards on 70 minutes, however, but McGowan and Danny Grainger combined to block his shot. The ensuing corner was nodded wide by Marcus Haber on the back post.

Riordan then wasted another chance with fifteen minutes remaining after he fired a volley high over the bar after breaching the Maroon backline.

Hearts were offering little in terms of attacking play at this point but it mattered little as the Perth struggled to impose themselves.

Elliott made way for Mehdi Taouil with just over six minutes remaining; Sergio handing the Moroccan a chance to build up his match fitness as he fights for a starting spot at Hampden on May 19th. Gordon Smith then came on with a few minutes to spare as Hearts comfortably saw out the game to climb above the Saints into 5th place with just one game remaining.

The Jambos now travel to Celtic Park on the last day of the season with a two point lead on the Perth side as they look to seal a place in next season's Europa League.

Hearts: Ridgers; McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Suso (Smith 88), Black, Barr (Robinson 54), Driver; Skacel, Elliott (Taouil 83). Subs not used: Jack Hamilton, Templeton, Novikovas, Prychynenko.

Motherwell: Mannus; Mackay, Anderson, McCracken, Davidson (Maybury 78); Millar (Riordan 61), M. Davidson (Adams 61), Morris, Craig; Haber, Sheridan. Subs not used: Enckelman, Oyenuga, Gray, Keatings.

Referee: Steven McLean

Top man: Ian Black

Hearts World