Heart of Midlothian 2-0 St Johnstone

Goals from Ryan Stevenson and John Sutton gave Hearts fans some much-needed cheer as they ended their five-match losing streak.

Stevenson struck in the 32nd minute following a counter-attack and Sutton ensured Hearts moved into 10th place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, six points behind sixth-placed Hibernian with three games left until the split.

Hearts could have had more, with Michael Ngoo alone having more than half a dozen decent chances, while St Johnstone also created a number of opportunities, especially in a frantic first half. Both sides had goals disallowed.

The victory will have come as a huge relief for caretaker manager Gary Locke on a day when the board attempted to reassure supporters after the apparently financially stricken Vladimir Romanov resigned from the board of UBIG, the club's majority shareholder.

Fans looking for an escape from off-field concerns got one with an incredibly open first half which began with St Johnstone threatening twice inside two minutes.

Mehdi Abeid was inches away from connecting with Rowan Vine's cross and the pair soon linked up on the break, with the latter forcing Jamie MacDonald into a decent block.

Sutton just missed the top corner with a header and he had the ball in the net in the 12th minute but was flagged offside after bundling home Darren Barr's low cross.

Saints went back on the attack and Murray Davidson side-footed Liam Craig's cutback towards the corner but MacDonald got down well.

Sutton soon had another chance when Mehdi Taouil flicked the ball through but Alan Mannus was off his line quickly to block and MacDonald saved from Steven MacLean.

The game continued to rage from end to end as typified by the opening goal.

Taouil took a quick free-kick on the edge of his box and Sutton managed to get the ball wide to Arvydas Novikovas to leave Saints outnumbered.

The Lithuanian winger played a low cross towards Ngoo but Mannus was again out to foil the Liverpool loan striker. However, the ball broke for Stevenson to drill home from 18 yards.

Ngoo twice broke down the left soon after but Mannus saved his first effort and the tall striker then curled just wide.

Steve Lomas brought on Gregory Tade for Abeid in the 40th minute and the forward was immediately involved, setting up Craig to fire home, although the flag was up before the midfielder shot, and then getting his own strike away to force MacDonald into a diving save.

There was still time for Ngoo to have three more decent efforts before the break, with his closest attempt foiled by Callum Davidson as he stumbled towards goal after skipping past Mannus.

St Johnstone, with Steven Anderson on for Frazer Wright, had the first chance of the second half when captain Dave Mackay curled a free-kick on to the roof of the net.

But there was less goalmouth action after the break as Hearts got men behind the ball, although they looked a threat on the break and Ngoo flashed a shot wide after a Sutton flick-on.

There were soon chances at both ends following free-kicks, with Murray Davidson heading just wide before Ngoo sliced past the post.

Tade almost levelled in the 74th minute when he headed Mackay's cross past MacDonald but Andy Webster hooked the ball off the line.

But Hearts sealed the points in the 83rd minute. Ngoo brushed off Anderson in the right side of the penalty box and rolled the ball across the goalmouth for Sutton to tap home.

Assistant referee Francis Andrews disallowed his second goal of the game when he ruled the ball out of play just before Mackay crossed for Tade to convert with an overhead kick.

The referee brings the game to a close.

Effort on goal by Michael Ngoo from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.
91

The official flags Callum Davidson offside. Jamie MacDonald takes the direct free kick.
89

Unfair challenge on Murray Davidson by Jason Holt results in a free kick. Patrick Cregg takes the free kick.
88

Jamie Walker has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.
88

Liam Craig is caught offside. Direct free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
86

Gordon Smith is brought on as a substitute for John Sutton.
86

The offside flag is raised against Steven Anderson. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.
84

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Liam Craig, clearance made by Jamie MacDonald.
83

John Sutton gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hearts 2-0 St Johnstone.The assist for the goal came from Michael Ngoo.
82

Corner from the right by-line taken by Fraser Mullen, free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Wilson on David McCracken. Alan Mannus restarts play with the free kick.
80

Foul by Gregory Tade on Andy Webster, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
78

Jason Holt on for Mehdi Taouil.
76

Foul by David MacKay on Mehdi Taouil, free kick awarded. Caution for David MacKay. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Mehdi Taouil.
71

Free kick awarded for a foul by David McCracken on Ryan Stevenson. Free kick taken by Fraser Mullen.
69

Liam Craig fouled by Jamie Walker, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Walker receives a caution. Liam Craig takes the free kick.
68

Correction - Michael Ngoo is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Alan Mannus.
66

Unfair challenge on Darren Barr by Nigel Hasselbaink results in a free kick. Jamie MacDonald takes the direct free kick.
66

Michael Ngoo is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Alan Mannus restarts play with the free kick.
66

Effort from the edge of the penalty area by Michael Ngoo goes wide of the left-hand post.
65

The referee penalises Steven MacLean for handball. Jamie Walker replaces Arvydas Novikovas. Direct free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
64

Steven Anderson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Ngoo. Arvydas Novikovas takes the direct free kick.
62

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Ngoo by Callum Davidson. Booking for Callum Davidson. Free kick taken by Arvydas Novikovas. Nigel Hasselbaink is brought on as a substitute for Rowan Vine.
61

Callum Davidson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Stevenson. Fraser Mullen takes the free kick.
59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Murray Davidson by Darren Barr. The referee shows Darren Barr a yellow card. Free kick taken by Steven Anderson.
57

The referee blows for offside. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
55

John Sutton challenges Steven Anderson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Alan Mannus takes the free kick.
53

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Arvydas Novikovas by Patrick Cregg. Direct free kick taken by Fraser Mullen.
51

Murray Davidson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mehdi Taouil. Danny Wilson takes the free kick.
49

Foul by Darren Barr on Patrick Cregg, free kick awarded. Steven Anderson restarts play with the free kick.
48

Foul by Andy Webster on Steven MacLean, free kick awarded. David MacKay has an effort direct from the free kick.
45

The referee gets the second half started.

Steven Anderson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Frazer Wright.
45

The players leave the pitch at half time.

Kevin McHattie fouled by Steven MacLean, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
45

Michael Ngoo takes a shot. Save made by Alan Mannus.
45

Liam Craig concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Wilson. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
44

Effort from deep inside the area by Michael Ngoo misses to the left of the goal.
42

Gregory Tade takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald.
41

David McCracken fouled by Michael Ngoo, the ref awards a free kick. David MacKay takes the free kick.
40

The assistant referee flags for offside against Steven MacLean. Jamie MacDonald takes the direct free kick.
40

(St Johnstone) makes a substitution, with Gregory Tade coming on for Mehdi Abeid.
39

Liam Craig fouled by Fraser Mullen, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Callum Davidson.
38

Effort from the edge of the area by Michael Ngoo goes wide of the right-hand post.
36

Mehdi Abeid fouled by Kevin McHattie, the ref awards a free kick. David MacKay takes the free kick.
35

Steven MacLean concedes a free kick for a foul on Darren Barr. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.
35

Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Barr on Patrick Cregg. Callum Davidson takes the direct free kick.
34

Michael Ngoo takes a shot. Alan Mannus makes a save.
33

Ryan Stevenson scores a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hearts 1-0 St Johnstone.
32

Patrick Cregg concedes a free kick for a foul on Mehdi Taouil. Mehdi Taouil takes the free kick.
31

Unfair challenge on Andy Webster by Steven MacLean results in a free kick. Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.
30

The official flags Steven MacLean offside. Direct free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
28

John Sutton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Frazer Wright. Frazer Wright takes the direct free kick.
28

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Arvydas Novikovas.
26

The offside flag is raised against David MacKay. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
23

Steven MacLean fouled by Danny Wilson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Liam Craig.
21

Fraser Mullen goes into the referee's book.
20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Craig on Arvydas Novikovas. Free kick taken by Fraser Mullen.
19

Steven MacLean takes a shot. Jamie MacDonald makes a save.
19

The referee gives a free kick against Arvydas Novikovas for handball. Alan Mannus takes the free kick.
18

Foul by Mehdi Abeid on Arvydas Novikovas, free kick awarded. Danny Wilson restarts play with the free kick.
17

John Sutton takes a shot. Save by Alan Mannus.
16

The assistant referee signals for offside against Steven MacLean. Jamie MacDonald takes the direct free kick.
16

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Liam Craig from the right by-line, clearance by Andy Webster.
15

Murray Davidson takes a shot. Jamie MacDonald makes a save.
14

Mehdi Abeid fouled by Darren Barr, the ref awards a free kick. Patrick Cregg takes the free kick.
13

John Sutton is ruled offside. Alan Mannus takes the direct free kick.
12

Frazer Wright gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John Sutton. Arvydas Novikovas takes the free kick.
8

Rowan Vine is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Fraser Mullen.
8

Mehdi Taouil challenges Steven MacLean unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Patrick Cregg.
8

Header from close range by John Sutton clears the bar.
5

Foul by Liam Craig on Kevin McHattie, free kick awarded. Darren Barr takes the free kick.
4

The offside flag is raised against Steven MacLean. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
3

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David McCracken by Michael Ngoo. Patrick Cregg restarts play with the free kick.
2

Liam Craig takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Michael Ngoo.
2

Rowan Vine takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald.
1

The game kicks-off.

Taken from sportinglife.com