Hearts 2 St Johnstone 0

JOHN SUTTON bagged his first competitive goal in maroon for seven months to set Hearts on their way to victory.

JOHN McGLYNN watched his Hearts kids pass their first SPL test as they got his Gorgie reign off to a flier.

Now the Jambos gaffer wants them to show they’re man enough to cope with the blood and thunder of next weekend’s Edinburgh derby at Easter Road.

John Sutton bagged his first competitive goal in maroon for seven months to set Hearts on their way to victory.

And despite taking their foot off the gas following a red card for Saints’ Gregory Tade eight minutes before the break, the Tynecastle men finally sealed the points when David Templeton struck late on.

Teenage full-backs Callum Paterson, 17, who was named man of the match, and Kevin McHattie, 18, impressed on their top-flight debuts, with Dale Carrick, 18, joining them from the bench.

The Hearts team celebrate their 1-0 lead The Hearts team celebrate their 1-0 lead

McGlynn reckons the 2-0 win sets things up perfectly as they look to stretch an unbeaten derby run to a dozen games.

He said: “Our full-backs were excellent. They’ve played their first home debut in front of a good crowd. That could have put them off but they handled it perfectly.

“Not many people throw in two full-backs to an SPL game but we gave them the experience of the pre-season friendlies and they’ve settled in tremendously well.

“If Callum’s fit he’ll play next week. I don’t mind telling Pat Fenlon that.

“Hearts fans will be in great voice but it’s a new season and Hibs will be looking to reply to things that happened last season and try to spoil the Hearts party.

“However, we’ll must take belief and confidence from today.”

The Gorgie faithful turned out in great numbers but it could have been a bad start if Ryan McGowan had seen red for elbowing Callum Davidson just two minutes into the game. However, ref Stevie O’Reilly opted for yellow instead.

The Jambos shrugged that off and McGowan had a header on its way in until an acrobatic clearance off the line from Davidson.

At the other end there was relief for the home side as Liam Craig’s cross-cum-shot missed everyone before shaving the post.

Davidson came to the rescue of Saints again. Templeton skipped past a clutch of defenders and found Andy Driver who looked certain to score from close in until the defender’s brilliant intervention.

Moments later Driver rolled a free-kick into the path of Paterson who rifled an effort off the bar.

But just five minutes later the breakthrough arrived. Templeton jinked into the box and Saints’ Dave MacKay sent the winger tumbling.

Up stepped Sutton who coolly sent the ball low past Alan Mannus.

Things then went from bad to worse for Saints who saw Tade dismissed for raising his hand to Andy Webster.

Despite being a man down, the away side looked more dangerous in the second half – and goal hero Sutton had to clear an effort from Nigel Hasselbaink off the line.

Templeton then rifled in a 30-yard free-kick that had Mannus at full stretch to push away.

But the Jambo got his goal nine minutes from time, curling home after being set up by Mehdi Taouil.

Taken from the Daily Record