'It's one step forward, two steps back for Hearts right now' - Journalists' predictions for St Johnstone v Hearts

Oliver Bozanic gets to grips with Murray Davidson during the last meeting at McDiarmid Park

Mark Atkinson

A difficult match to call. St Johnstone will be buoyed by their late win over Hamilton - they have become more potent since Stevie May returned.

It’s a case of one step forward, two steps back for Hearts right now, undoing any semblance of good work with average results.

They have the players to win in Perth, but a draw is the most likely outcome for me. Prediction: Draw

Anthony Brown

After a start to the season which was ravaged by defensive mistakes, Hearts at least appear to have found a way of keeping the back door shut, with only three goals conceded in their last five league games and clean sheets in each of their last two away games.

Indeed, their only defeat in their last five away games came at Celtic Park, which suggests they are perfectly capable of going to the home of the league’s bottom team and coming away with some kind of result.

With several key attackers nursing fitness issues, however, it is hard to see where the goals are going to come from for Craig Levein’s team. Prediction: Draw

Craig Fowler

A Hearts team in good form going to McDiarmid Park would make me nervous.

The Tynecastle side have a dreadful record in Perth over recent years and surely this side - with one league win all season - aren't going to be the ones to buck the trend.

If any of Steven Naismith, Peter Haring, Glenn Whelan or Jamie Walker are back in time then I could foresee a draw.

However, with the Betfred Cup semi against Rangers just around the corner it's unlikely any of them will be risked. Prediction: St Johnstone win

Neil McGlade

It doesn’t make for much great reading for the maroon half of the city.

Just one win from 14 attempts in Perth, Hearts couldn’t be facing Saints at a worse time given their own predicaments, not to mention Tommy Wright’s men securing their first Premiership victory of the season at the weekend against Hamilton.

The Jambos could find themselves bottom of the table by 9.30pm tonight, should they lose and results elsewhere don’t go in their favour.

I’m not going to even try and predict who or who might not be back in the starting XI from injury because, quite frankly, I don’t think Levein knows himself judging by his attempts to build up hope in recent weeks. Prediction: This one has got draw written all over it.

Patrick McPartlin

It's nearly nine years to the day since Hearts last won on league duty at McDiarmid Park and even in that spell, their only win has come via extra time in the League Cup.

This time last week, I probably would have backed Hearts to edge a close game given St Johnstone's start to the season but their come-from-behind win against Hamilton at the weekend adds an extra dimension to this clash. Hearts' injury worries have been well-documented and Saturday's stalemate in West Lothian won't have helped the mood in the Tynecastle camp.

Tommy Wright's side had a nightmare start to the campaign with that 7-0 loss to Celtic but they've also recorded decent draws away to Aberdeen, away to Hibs and at home to Livingston - in all three cases, coming from behind to gain a point.

Saints were goalless in three home games before the five-goal thriller against Accies - have they finally turned a corner? Wednesday night will give us a further indication but I can see the points being shared in this one. Prediction: Draw

Joel Sked

One win in 14 league games for Hearts in Perth. They go there without a host of key players - I would be astounded if any of Ryo Meshino, Steven Naismith or Jamie Walker start - on the back of failing to break down ten-man Livingston and St Johnstone have just picked up their first league win of the season.

Without Meshino, Naismith, Jake Mulraney and Jamie Walker there is little creativity in the midfield to supply the strikers.

The best chance is in getting the ball to the front men as quickly as possible but in an efficient manner.

It really is just hard to picture a Hearts win on a cold midweek night in Perth. Prediction: St Johnstone win