Hearts 1-0 St Johnstone: No happy Tynecastle return for Craig Levein but Perth side put up a good capital city display

A Lawrence Shankland goal decides the game

There was no happy return to Tynecastle for Craig Levein, with his St Johnstone side going down to their first defeat since he became manager.

After everything is said and done, the new Perth manager will be pleased with his team’s performance overall, even if his former team, Hearts, won the Premiership.

Regretfully, Lawrence Shankland’s goal shortly after the hour mark ended the match just as Saints were about to take the upper hand.

Hearts got off to a quick start, and by the time the clock reached seven minutes, Dimitar Mitov had made two outstanding diving saves to save the hosts from taking the lead.

Alex Cochrane tried to put the finishing touches on a flowing move in the first one, low to his right.

And Liam Boyce’s downward header from a corner went goal-bound at the back post for the second, which was low to his left.

But as the first half went on, Saints were more and more integrated into the match.

Luke Robinson made a great save from close range against Zander Clark, then Chris Kane set up Matt Smith for a shot from just inside the box that past the goalie from Perth but went into the side net.

Shortly after the second half began, Clark had to be on his toes once more as he got his hand to a cross from Smith that converted into a shot that was heading for the top corner.

Then on 56 minutes he kept out a Max Kucheriavyi long-range effort.

Just as the game had reached a spell of relative Saints control, Hearts got themselves in front.

Cochrane delivered a good ball from the left and Liam Boyce’s first-time shot took a touch off Shankland to help it past Mitov at his near post.

The nearest Saints came to an equaliser was when Dara Costelloe narrowly failed to get his head to a Stevie May cross.

St Johnstone: Kucheriavyi 6.5, Robinson 7.5, Smith 7, Phillips 7, Costelloe 6.5, Considine 6 (Gallacher, 45), McGowan 7, Gordon 7, May 6.5 (Jaiyesimi, 86), Kane 6 (Jephcott, 82), Kucheriavyi 6.5, Robinson 7.5, and McGowan 7. Unused substitutes: Sprangler, Ballantyne, Turner-Cooke, Franczak, Olufunwa, and Richards.

Luke Robinson, the main man for the Saints. The defender, who is now on loan, performed admirably at left wing-back during the first half and capably filled in for the injured Andy Considine in the back three during the second half.