Jefferies watched the action from the McDiarmid Park main stand

Manager Jim Jefferies was thrilled to see Hearts add St Johnstone to the recent scalps of Celtic and Hibernian.

"I said to the players that this was a day we had to get our heads right," he said after the 2-0 win in Perth.

"The last two games were played in big atmospheres and that was missing, but the players showed a fantastic spirit.

"I feel sorry for St Johnstone because we got a break with the penalty, but I felt we had more of the chances and worked their keeper harder."

The pitch at McDiarmid Park passed an early morning inspection after a period of heavy rain but the surface made life difficult for both sides.

"We had a great backing from our fans and I think they will forgive us, and St Johnstone, for not putting on much of a show," added Jefferies.

"There was plenty of effort but the conditions were not conducive for good football, so you just keep plodding away, keep making sure you don't do anything stupid and hopefully a chance will come along."

Hearts took the lead from a 64th-minute Kevin Kyle penalty, awarded when a David Templeton free-kick struck a St Johnstone hand.

"(St Johnstone boss) Derek (McInnes) will feel a bit aggrieved. I just saw it hit the wall but the referee was nearer than me," explained Jefferies, who was in the stand serving the last match of his touchline ban.

"We got the break and Kevin stuck it away.

"They put us under pressure but we kept going and kept defending very well. Our goalkeeper has had very little to do."

Ryan Stevenson added a late strike on the counter-attack to make it three wins in the space of seven days for the Edinburgh side.

"It's been a fantastic week for us," enthused Jefferies.

"I was concerned about today because it was a different sort of game but they came through it great. There's a right good spirit amongst these boys.

"They stood up to what was required and got the result they deserved."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version