Hearts player ratings vs St Johnstone: Rampant 8/10 dazzles as Jambos ride storm and build pre-derby momentum

Hearts edged out a 2-1 win against St Johnstone in their latest Premiership match at Tynecastle.

James Wilson handed the hosts an early lead and a Laurent Mendy header was ruled out for a foul on Saints keeper Toby Steward. Enes Alic’s own goal before half-time put the game firmly in Hearts hands but Ruari Paton halved the deficit in a much-improved second half for the Gorgie visitors. Next up for head coach Wouter Vrancken and his players - sitting on six points from nine available so far this season - is the first Edinburgh derby of this campaign at Easter Road against Hibs next Thursday. Simo Valakari will prepare St Johnstone for Dundee at Dens Park 24 hours earlier.

The Jambos were still basking in the glory of Conference League qualification midweek. A penalty shootout success over Rapid Vienna in their play-off tie had unlocked battles versus the likes of Monaco and Trabzonspor. As Skyscanner prepared for raiding by fans in maroon, home players in action this weekend were aiming for similar performance heights against Valakari’s side, who are enjoying their return to top flight status as Championship title holders.

Vrancken rotated where possible with key men like Calvin Miller benched after Wednesday’s extra-time excursions while Saints had been on ice since August 8. It was possibly a battle of the weary versus the fresh but the former controlled early proceedings. A more front-footed style based on possession perhaps had Hearts better equipped to deal with any physical niggles they were carrying from Vienna and only Toby Steward’s point-blank saved prevented an opener. An excellent Josh McPake corner - playing against St Johnstone for the first time since swapping Perth for Gorgie - was headed back across goal by Tomas Magnusson and Mendy was denied with his eventual shot.

A few moments later and Wilson was in to get his side ahead. Saints defender Zach Mitchell’s botched pass out from the back was picked off by and the academy graduate was composed to roll his effort under the advancing Steward. Hearts were cutting St Johnstone open at will, particularly down the left-hand-side, and central areas were also a struggle for those from McDiarmid Park. They did start to find some space on the right though and a few advances into the Hearts box on that channel called players such as central defender Stuart Findlay into action. Jamie Gullan put an effort wide in one opening, but Mendy looked impressive for Hearts, and the summer signing came close in a maroon response to St Johnstone pressure. The import from Forest Green Rovers evaded oncoming defensive tackles before his low driven effort was pushed wide.

Referee Ryan Lee soon drew the ire of home fans, first ruling no penalty for a challenge inside the box on Christian Borchgrevink, before Mendy’s header for a second Hearts goal was deemed a foul on Steward. Jordi Altena had just stung Steward’s palms with a strong free-kick and it appeared a case of when, not if, the home lead would be doubled. Mendy was there again to pounce on a Hearts attack, this time from an in-swinging Altena free-kick, debuting Saints left-back Alic putting the ball into his own net before half-time under pressure. McPake then missed a one-on-one to cap off a rampant first half display from Vrancken’s impressive team.

Much had been made of a difficult start to the season for Hearts, where heavy defeats against Sturm Graz and Benfica in Europe were compounded by an opening day loss at Aberdeen, but time was needed to mould this new group of players into their Belgian gaffer’s image that appeared apparent here. They cut their foes open at will in the first 45, and half-time couldn’t come quick enough for St Johnstone, who were getting a harsh reminder on what facing a top end Premiership side looks like. There was a different feel about this one four minutes after the break though, when Paton broke free inside the box and buried beyond Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus, after the defence ahead of him parted wide open.

Findlay lunged desperately to avoid a tap-in opportunity shortly afterwards for St Johnstone, who were beyond Altena, and whipping in another dangerous ball towards the Jambos goal. A bit of tension had been added to proceedings and Reus’ close range save as Josh Fowler tried to round him for a tap-in only increased rising angst for the vast majority inside Tynecastle. Pierre Landry Kabore nearly bundled Altena’s cross at the other end in but the ball contrived to miss the net when it seemed like the most likely outcome and Blair Spittal then fizzed a curler off Steward’s bar.

Valakari watched his team in yellow camp Hearts inside their own half in spells and Reus tipped over a Reece McAlear free-kick excellently. There was no Euro hangover here for Hearts, despite symptoms of the game before’s major demands. They had to ride a Saints storm in spells of the second half but pre-derby momentum is building. Six matches unbeaten shows a team coming into their own and finding their feet in Vrancken’s all-action system that will only show improvements with time. Here’s how we rated the Hearts players.