Hearts need to stamp out mistakes that marred St Johnstone draw, admits Sean Clare

Sean Clare’s rescue goal was both powerful and inspirational for Hearts at McDiarmid Park. The fact that it should not have been needed was also unshakeable on the journey back to Edinburgh on Saturday evening.

Daniel Stendel’s side were 2-1 ahead and in command at half-time but needed Clare’s blistering strike to secure a point in a 3-3 draw. At full-time they were off the bottom of the Premiership to continue Stendel’s gradual revival – and are now unbeaten in five games.

A total of 3,231 away fans travelled to Perth and gave the visitors enormous vocal backing. They left as frustrated as anyone, knowing a disjointed period in the second half cost them successive league victories for the first time in a year.

“The draw is not a bad result but I feel it’s a game we drew rather than them making us draw,” said Clare.

“We were in control first half and a shaky 15 minutes in the second half has cost us three points. We are happy to take the point and get closer to the rest of the teams in the league, but we have to look at why that’s happened and stop it from happening again.”

Stevie May’s low finish on 17 minutes put St Johnstone ahead but Liam Boyce converted Toby Sibbick’s cross nine minutes later for his second goal in two games since joining Hearts. Steven Naismith’s header secured a 2-1 advantage at the break.

For the first half of the second period, Hearts were unrecognisable. Their defence was exposed, passing slack and the midfield was posted missing.

St Johnstone scored through Ali McCann’s drive and then won a penalty which May converted.

The Perth club held on until the final seconds. Their opponents were pushing and Clare earned some reward for his own recent renaissance at right-back with a sweetly-struck equaliser from 20 yards.

“I don’t really remember it much,” he said. “We were pushing for a goal and the manager wants his full-backs high. I’ve gone high on the inside and the cross has dropped between me and Boycie. Thankfully, he left it for me and I was able to put it in.”

Stendel’s attacking gameplan means gaps will appear at the back, which will inevitably lead to more high-scoring encounters like this.

“There is definitely an element of risk but the more we practise it, the more secure we will be at the back. The way we play will allow us to score more goals so it should be more high-scoring for us,” said Clare.

"We are a team with a lot more confidence than in the first half of the season. We are more organised in possession. Out of possession, on Saturday we weren’t great, especially in the second half.

“We were excellent in the first half, lost a goal against the run of play but fought back to go 2-1 up. We gave them no chances and cut out every ball they tried. It’s a shame we couldn’t do that in the second half.”

The jubilation among Hearts fans when Clare lashed the equaliser was satisfying for anyone who felt the Englishman had suffered too much criticism earlier in the season. The move from midfield to right-back has been a catalyst in his recovery, along with Stendel’s motivational work,

“The manager has instilled a bit more belief and confidence in me,” he said.

“The style of play is right up my street. I’m still learning, I’m nowhere near the finished article in the right-back position. I’m not saying I’m permanently a right-back but there is lots for me to learn and that means I can get better.

“I’ve never been a winger. When you get up the pitch [from full-back] it’s like that, so that’s something I’m learning as well as the defensive side. The manager wants the full-backs to get high and that suits me. I’m an attacking player but there’s still lots to learn going forward and defensively.”