Hearts Vs St Johnstone

As the Scottish Premiership season nears its climax, St Johnstone, currently rooted to the bottom of the table, face a daunting trip to Tynecastle Park to take on Hearts in what could be a decisive fixture for their survival hopes. With just two matches remaining in their campaign, the Saints find themselves in a perilous position, trailing safety by five points and desperately needing a miracle to preserve their 16-year tenure in Scotland’s top flight. Hearts, meanwhile, have already secured their place in the division for next season but will be eager to finish their turbulent campaign on a high note under interim manager Liam Fox.

St Johnstone’s struggles this season have been well-documented. Since matchday 18, they have been marooned at the foot of the table, unable to claw their way out of the relegation zone despite a mid-season managerial change. The club parted ways with Craig Levein after just five league games, handing the reins to Simo Valakari in the hope of a revival. However, the Finnish coach has found it difficult to inspire a sustained turnaround, with the team managing only nine wins, five draws, and a staggering 22 defeats from their 36 matches so far. These results have left them with a meager 32-point haul, three points behind Ross County—who occupy the relegation playoff spot—and a further two adrift of Dundee in 10th place.

Their most recent outing did provide a glimmer of hope, as they secured a vital 2-1 victory over Ross County, a direct rival in the battle to avoid the drop. That win kept their faint survival hopes alive, but with only six points left to play for, they must now produce back-to-back victories and rely on other results going their way. The task ahead is monumental, particularly given their abysmal recent record against Hearts. The Perth side have lost their last nine meetings with the Jambos, with their most recent triumph dating back to February 2022—a 2-1 win at McDiarmid Park. If they are to pull off a shock result at Tynecastle, they will need their key players, such as striker Adama Sidibeh, to deliver in what is essentially a must-win encounter.

Hearts, on the other hand, have endured a season of frustration and instability. After a disastrous start that saw them fail to win any of their first 10 matches in all competitions—a run that cost Steven Naismith his job—the Edinburgh club turned to Neil Critchley in an attempt to salvage their campaign. The former Blackpool boss did manage to steady the ship, guiding the team into contention for a top-six finish. However, a late collapse, consisting of two defeats and a draw in their final three pre-split fixtures, saw them miss out on the top half by a single point, with St Mirren pipping them to sixth place.

The disappointment did not end there. Hearts’ hopes of silverware were dashed in the Scottish FA Cup semi-finals, where they suffered an agonizing 2-1 extra-time defeat to Aberdeen. That loss, coupled with a dismal 1-0 defeat to Dundee in their first post-split match, proved the final straw for Critchley, who was promptly relieved of his duties. Since then, interim boss Liam Fox has overseen a mini-revival, leading the team to consecutive victories over Ross County (3-1) and Motherwell (3-0). These results have lifted Hearts to seventh in the table, and they will be keen to maintain momentum heading into the final fixtures of what has been a turbulent season.

For St Johnstone, this match represents perhaps their last chance to keep their survival bid alive. A defeat would confirm their relegation if Ross County avoid defeat elsewhere, while even a draw would leave them needing an improbable sequence of results on the final day. Hearts, meanwhile, will be playing for pride and the opportunity to build positive momentum ahead of next season. With the home crowd behind them and recent form on their side, the Jambos will be strong favorites, but football has a habit of producing drama when least expected.

As the two sides prepare to lock horns, the stakes could hardly be higher for St Johnstone. Their fate hangs by a thread, and only a monumental effort will be enough to extend their stay in the Premiership. Hearts, though with little left to play for, will be determined to end their season on a high and continue their recent dominance over their struggling opponents. The stage is set for a compelling encounter at Tynecastle—one that could ultimately decide the future of Scotland’s oldest professional club.