'Hearts begin a new era and Stendel could galvanise the team' - Journalists' predictions for Hearts v St Johnstone

Uche Ikpeazu vies for the ball with St Johnstone's Wallace Duffy during the last meeting between the two teams

Mark Atkinson

You could not pick a better game for Daniel Stendel's bow. Up against the team that prop up the Premiership and one that rarely takes anything from Tynecastle, Hearts have the perfect opportunity to kick off this new era with a win.

Saints have some pace in the team via Matty Kennedy and Michael O'Halloran, but they are a shadow of St Johnstone outfits of previous eras.

The home fans will be eagerly anticipating life under Stendel and that should produce a better atmosphere for Hearts to play in. The magnitude of this match cannot be understated.

Hearts really need a win here - and I think they'll get it. Prediction: Hearts 2-0 St Johnstone

Anthony Brown

Daniel Stendel’s presence should have some form of galvanising effect on the Hearts players and perhaps just as importantly the home support.

If Tynecastle, so often lacking atmosphere in recent seasons, starts to crackle with excitement again following the appointment of their new German manager, St Johnstone, who have also been struggling this season, could be in for a tough afternoon. Prediction: Hearts 3 St Johnstone 1

Neil McGlade

A new era unfolds at Tynecastle this weekend as new boss Daniel Stendel takes charge of the Gorgie side for the first time in this bottom-of-the-table clash with St Johnstone.

Put the romanticism to one side, this is a match Hearts really have to win. It's the perfect fixture in some ways and an opportunity for the German to get off on the right foot.

That said, despite the renewed optimism surrounding the former Barnsley manager's unveiling this week, let's not forget Stendel has a mammoth task on his hands if he is to revive the club's fortunes.

He takes over a group of players bereft of confidence and a squad that have amassed just two wins in the league all season. St Johnstone have been woeful for the vast majority of the campaign too and have a pretty dismal record at Tynecastle. Everything points towards a home win but I don't buy it. Prediction: Draw

Patrick McPartlin

There isn't always a new manager bounce when a new man arrives but I think there will be at Tynecastle tomorrow. There are plenty of good players in the Hearts squad and I think an end to the uncertainty over Craig Levein's successor along with a "fresh start" feeling can and will do the Jambos wonders tomorrow.

Daniel Stendel has ideas about how he wants his team to play and while it will take a time for things to click properly, I can see Hearts winning this match rather comfortably. Prediction: Hearts win