SPL: Hearts 2 St Johnstone 0

But those Hearts fans who chose Tynecastle over Man Utd v Real Madrid on the telly were certainly glad they did.

Goals from Ryan Stevenson and John Sutton in front of the Jambos’ lowest league crowd of the season — 10,080 — ended a run of five straight defeats for the men in maroon.

And it gave Jambos fans something to smile about after another day of worrying rumours regarding their club’s future.

The gutsy display also did Gary Locke’s chances of landing the manager’s job on a permanent basis no harm at all.

The caretaker boss made three changes to the side that lost to Motherwell on Saturday.

In came Fraser Mullen, Darren Barr and Arvydas Novikovas for Dylan McGowan, Jamie Walker and Callum Tapping.

Saints boss Steve Lomas recalled Callum Davidson and Murray Davidson for Tam Scobbie and Chris Millar.

And he almost saw his side grab the lead inside 30 seconds when Mehdi Abeid was inches away from connecting with Rowan Vine’s back-post cross.

Hearts lost two goals to Well inside eight minutes and they looked nervy as Saints went close again less than a minute later.

This time Jamie MacDonald did well to beat away Vine’s shot.

Hearts could have gone ahead just five minutes in when Sutton got on the end of a Novikovas cross.

But despite beating Frazer Wright in the air he couldn’t hit the target with his header.

The striker did have the ball in the net in 11 minutes when he bundled Barr’s cross past keeper Alan Mannus at the second attempt, but the flag was already up for offside. MacDonald was then called into action at the other end 90 seconds later.

This time he threw himself to his left to keep out Murray Davidson’s side-footed shot.

Hearts went back on the attack and Sutton linked up well with Mehdi Taouil to find a way through on goal.

But Mannus did well to rush off his line and block his shot with his chest.

Mullen became the first booking in the 21st minute for taking out Murray Davidson.

But as the half wore on Hearts began to look the more likely side — and with 32 minutes gone they grabbed the lead with a classic counter attack.

The Jambos broke quickly when Saints lost the ball on the edge of the Hearts box.

Sutton raced towards the halfway line and played the ball to Novikovas, who crossed for Michael Ngoo.

The on-loan Liverpool striker saw his shot blocked by Mannus, but Stevenson followed up to drill the ball home from ten yards out.

Mannus then had to save from Ngoo from a tight angle as the Jambos looked for a quickfire second.

And the striker then curled a shot just past the keeper’s post.

Lomas reacted by telling Gregory Tade to get stripped on the touchline in the 40th minute and he replaced Abeid, who looked less than pleased as he walked up the tunnel.

But the change couldn’t alter the flow of the game and Ngoo went close again two minutes before the break with another shot that flew wide.

And the youngster should have added a second before the teams went up the tunnel when his pace took him away from Dave Mackay but Mannus blocked and when the ball rebounded to him, Ngoo was unable to scramble it home.

Saints looked for a quick leveller after the restart and just a minute in skipper Mackay curled a free-kick just over.

Hearts then passed up two opportunities to double their lead when first Sutton and then Stevenson were unable to get on the end of crosses inside the Saints box.

Barr was harshly booked following a collision with Davidson in 58 minutes and was quickly followed into the book by Callum Davidson for a foul on Ngoo.

Lively Ngoo went close yet again in the 65th minute with a half volley which flashed wide.

And Murray Davidson then headed wide from a Liam Craig free-kick with 20 minutes left.

Ngoo again fired wide a minute later after Mullen’s free-kick had been deflected to him.

Mackay was then carded for hauling down Taouil on the edge of the Saints box.

With 16 minutes left Andy Webster came to Hearts’ rescue when he cleared a goal-bound Tade header with MacDonald beaten.

Hearts made the most of that escape by sealing the points with eight minutes to go.

Ngoo’s strength proved decisive as he held off sub Steven Anderson before squaring the ball for Sutton to tap home from two yards.

Saints’ miserable night was completed when Murray Davidson saw a strike disallowed for offside with three minutes left.

HEARTS: MacDonald 6; Mullen 5, Webster 6, Wilson 7, McHattie 6; Stevenson 7, Barr 7, Taouil 5 (Holt 2), Novikovas 5 (Walker 2); Ngoo 8, Sutton 7. Booked: Mullen, Barr, Walker. Best Man: Ngoo.

ST JOHNSTONE: Mannus 7; Mackay 6, McCracken 6, Wright 3 (Anderson 3), C Davidson 5; Craig 6, M Davidson 6, Cregg 5, Vine 4 (Hasselbaink 3); MacLean 5, Abeid 3 (Tade 3). Booked: C Davidson, Mackay. Best Man: M Davidson.

REFEREE: John Beaton 5.