Hearts 3 St Johnstone 0: Lack of clinical edge hinders Saints as capital club run out comfortable winners

St Johnstone were punished for not making the most of promising openings and, in the end, were comfortably beaten by Hearts.

Josh Ginnelly’s deflected first half strike had the capital club one up at the interval before he added another just after the hour mark.

Jorge Grant then well and truly wrapped up the victory and sent Saints home licking their wounds.

Manager Callum Davidson had made three changes from last week’s 1-1 draw with St Mirren.

There was no Andy Considine listed on the teamsheet and, therefore, James Brown was given the nod at the back.

Dan Phillips was in the stand due to suspension and that opened the door for Graham Carey to take his place in the middle of the park.

And in the forward department, Nicky Clark missed out with injury. Connor McLennan was given the nod from the first whistle.

Again a familiar face rooted himself between the Hearts posts in former Perth goalkeeper and cup double stalwart Zander Clark.

He gifted Saints a ninth minute opening with a loose pass but redeemed himself moments later by denying Stevie May’s low drive from the edge of the box.

Up the other end, Remi Matthews needed to be equally alert to keep out Michael Smith’s volley following a neat passage of play involving Robert Snodgrass and Lawrence Shankland.

In the 21st minute, Hearts were ahead. That was when Ginnelly’s left-footed effort from the edge of the box took a wicked deflected off Brown and nestled in the bottom corner.

There had been Perth appeals for a foul on Adam Montgomery in the build-up but referee Steven McLean was not interested.

Shankland was soon on the hunt for a second but Matthews tipped his powerful attempt behind for a corner.

Saints, before the half hour mark, did have a couple of