Blemished record could cost St Johnstone a European spot

Simon Buckland at Tynecastle

St Johnstone had beaten Hearts in all three of their previous Clydesdale Bank Premier League meetings this term.

The same outcome yesterday and they would have confirmed fifth place and qualification for the Europa League. When they needed a clean sweep, however, they found themselves brushed aside; the Perth side well-beaten at Tynecastle.

A Hearts victory in the Scottish Cup final could yet lead to St Johnstone being in Europe by default. Having lost momentum since the split, there is a sense that St Johnstone are being found out slightly in these closing weeks of the season; the final fixtures turning into a punishment for over-achieving earlier in the campaign.

"We wanted to get into Europe off our own backs, this was a massive game for us so I'm disappointed," said Steve Lomas, the St Johnstone manager. "We defended poorly. It's been tough since the split and we don't want to lose five on the bounce now. It's been a long, hard season and we've a big summer ahead."

Hearts could still be pushed back into sixth place were St Johnstone to better their result next week, but this win will probably be enough to clinch fifth. Hearts offered the kind of dominance you expect when they play at Tynecastle; physically robust in defence and adept in attack. Rudi Skacel scored their first and Andy Webster added another after the break.

"We controlled the game," said Paulo Sergio, the Hearts manager. "We had a very good first half and the result will build confidence for the cup final."

As if saving their voices for Hampden, there was a subdued atmosphere until Derek Riordan was spotted warming up as a St Johnstone substitute and suddenly Tynecastle came to life, with a barrage of abuse aimed at the former Hibernian forward. He got even more stick when he joined the fray just after the hour mark.

St Johnstone had started well enough – Jody Morris firing just wide early on – but it was Hearts who went ahead after 21 minutes. A low cross from Ryan McGowan found Skacel, the Hearts forward allowing the ball to run across him before guiding a shot past Alan Mannus. It was a strike which belied Skacel's presence at a club loitering in midtable.

Not that he is always that good. Skacel should have doubled Hearts' lead when Mannus saved an effort from Andy Webster, only to blaze the rebound over the crossbar. St Johnstone would have levelled on the half-hour mark, but for Ian Black. The Hearts midfielder is heading elsewhere in the summer, but was in the right place to block Murray Davidson's header on the line. Black received a standing ovation after the final whistle. Skacel may follow him out of Tynecastle after announcing on Twitter he has considered leaving the club this summer.

That is not quick enough for St Johnstone, who had a goal chalked off after 38 minutes when Marcus Haber was adjudged to have strayed offside. The decision will have come as a relief to Mark Ridgers, the young Hearts goalkeeper looking uneasy after being given a start ahead of Jamie MacDonald.

There was further concern for Hearts when Darren Barr succumbed to injury minutes into the second half, with the midfielder now a doubt for the Scottish Cup final.

Ridgers saved a long range hit from Jody Morris at the second attempt, a hint Hearts might need a second goal to make sure of the win. It came from a Danny Grainger free-kick that St Johnstone allowed to drop inside the penalty area, with Webster sliding in to score. Grainger, the victim of a few taunts from visiting supporters, cupped his ears in celebration.

The result was even more abuse from the travelling support, jeers which were drowned out by the home fans when Riordan fired over the crossbar late on.

Taken from the Herald