Hearts Vs St. Johnstone

On Sunday afternoon, the bottom two teams in the Scottish Premiership will meet in a crucial encounter as Hearts host St Johnstone at Tynecastle Park. The match holds significant importance for both clubs, with Hearts occupying the foot of the table and St Johnstone just one place above them. Hearts are in 12th position, having amassed a mere 13 points from their first 17 matches, while St Johnstone sits in 11th with 14 points from the same number of games.

The meeting of these two teams is a stark contrast from previous seasons when Hearts were battling for a spot among the top teams in the league. Hearts' journey back to the Scottish Premiership in the 2020-21 season, after securing the Scottish Championship title, marked the beginning of their return to the top tier, and they quickly became one of the more competitive sides in the league. In both the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons, they finished third, narrowly missing out on European competition, while in the 2022-23 season, they ended up in fourth place. However, the current campaign has seen a dramatic decline, with the club fighting to avoid a return to the Championship after just one season of struggles. 

The difficulties for Hearts began early in the season, with a dismal start under manager Steven Naismith. In the opening nine matches of the campaign, the team secured just one draw and suffered eight defeats across all competitions, including an elimination from the Europa League. This poor run of form eventually led to Naismith's dismissal, a decision that left the club in a precarious position, just a few points above the relegation zone. With the manager's exit, interim boss Liam Fox briefly took charge. During this period, Hearts managed to win one game, draw another, and lose one, but it was under the guidance of new manager Neil Critchley that they began to show signs of recovery. 

Critchley, who previously had managerial stints at Blackpool, took over in the hope of guiding Hearts out of the relegation battle. His tenure started off positively with consecutive victories over St Mirren and Omonia Nicosia, instilling a renewed sense of confidence within the squad. Since his arrival, the team has accumulated a record of four wins, three draws, and seven losses in 14 matches, giving them some hope as they aim to climb out of the bottom of the table. As things stand, Hearts are just two points behind the safety zone, with the potential to rise as high as ninth in the table, depending on other results. Their recent form against St Johnstone has been promising, with Hearts winning their last seven encounters against the Perth-based club, making them the favorites going into this fixture.

For St Johnstone, the story has been one of survival in the Scottish Premiership in recent seasons. The club has been involved in a relegation battle for several years, having finished 11th in the 2021-22 season, which required them to participate in a relegation playoff. They managed to secure their top-flight status by winning the playoff, but they have continued to struggle since then, finishing in ninth place in 2022-23 and 10th in 2023-24. Last season, they narrowly avoided relegation, staying above the drop zone only on goal difference. Their continued presence in the Scottish Premiership has been due to their ability to just about scrape together enough results to survive, and this season appears to be no different. With only 14 points from 17 games, the Saints find themselves in a precarious position once again, but they will be hoping to avoid a repeat of previous seasons and stay out of the relegation zone.

St Johnstone's form this season has been erratic. After a poor start, in which they lost six of their first eight league matches, the club managed to secure back-to-back victories in October against Ross County and Dundee, briefly giving them hope of a revival. However, their progress has since stalled, as they won just one of their following seven matches. Despite the lack of victories, there have been signs of improvement. In their five defeats during this period, four of those losses came by just a single goal, with the exception being a more significant 3-1 loss to St Mirren. This statistic indicates that St Johnstone has been competitive in their matches, often falling short by narrow margins, suggesting that they are capable of pushing their opponents but have struggled to convert those performances into points. Another positive sign for the Saints is their ability to hold possession in several of these losses, even in defeat. This suggests that their tactical approach is starting to show some positive aspects, but they must turn that possession into victories if they are to climb the table and avoid relegation.

As St Johnstone heads into this match against Hearts, they will be hoping to secure their first victory over the Edinburgh club since February 2022. While Hearts have had the upper hand in recent encounters, St Johnstone will look to build on their previous performances and find a way to break their losing streak against them. The Saints will also be hoping to continue their improvement, with their manager, Simo Valakari, likely to emphasize the importance of converting their competitive performances into tangible results. The club's survival in the Premiership will depend on their ability to win matches and put together a run of positive results, particularly against teams in the lower half of the table.

Both clubs will approach this match with a sense of urgency. For Hearts, a win could be the catalyst they need to push further up the table and potentially escape the relegation zone. With Critchley at the helm, the team has shown signs of a turnaround, and a positive result here would further fuel their belief that they can stay in the top flight. On the other hand, St Johnstone will see this as a must-win game if they are to stay clear of the relegation battle. The Saints have proven their ability to be competitive in matches, but they must find a way to turn those performances into victories if they are to secure their Premiership status for another season.

The Tynecastle clash is set to be a vital match for both teams, and while Hearts may be the favorites given their recent record against St Johnstone, the visitors will be determined to end their winless run against the Jambos and continue their fight for survival. With both teams struggling at the wrong end of the table, this encounter could prove to be a pivotal moment in their respective seasons, with the outcome likely to have a significant impact on their efforts to avoid relegation and stay in the Scottish Premiership.