St Johnstone climbed off the bottom of the cinch Premiership table after Jamie McCart's second-half header secured a crucial 2-1 home win over off-form Hearts.

St Johnstone climbed off the bottom of the cinch Premiership table after Jamie McCart’s second-half header secured a crucial 2-1 home win over off-form Hearts.

The victory, which was only their second in all competitions since late October, took Saints above relegation rivals Dundee, who play away to Celtic on Sunday.

Third-place Hearts – who remain without a win at McDiarmid Park since 2012 – were booed off by their supporters after suffering their third league defeat in a row.

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Saints made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Aberdeen in midweek as goalkeeper Zander Clark, Jacob Butterfield, Callum Booth and James Brown were replaced by Elliot Parish, Tom Sang, Tony Gallacher and Murray Davidson.

There were also four alterations to the Hearts team that began last weekend’s Scottish Cup tie against Livingston as goalkeeper Craig Gordon, Michael Smith, Andy Halliday and Beni Baningime dropped out to make way for Ross Stewart, Nathaniel Atkinson, Peter Haring and Josh Ginnelly.

Saints took the lead within the opening minute when Ali Crawford pinged a precise shot into the corner of the net from just inside the box after a lovely flowing build-up involving Glenn Middleton and Melker Hallberg.

Hearts equalised in the sixth minute when Atkinson followed up to fire in the rebound after Barrie McKay’s shot from the edge of the box came back off the outside of the post.

The visitors almost went ahead in the 11th minute when Ellis Simms knocked the ball against the post from close range after the hosts failed to deal with Stephen Kingsley’s corner.

Saints threatened in the 20th minute when Davidson fired a low shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Crawford then saw an effort deflect wide off Atkinson in the 40th minute as the first half ended all square.

Saints went close two minutes after the break when Hallberg curled a shot just past the post from 25 yards out.

At the other end, Simms hooked a decent chance over the bar from a Ginnelly cutback in the 48th minute before the big Hearts striker glanced a header wide moments later.

Saints went ahead in the 56th minute when McCart rose to nod home an inswinging free-kick from Hallberg.

Hearts defender John Souttar saw a close-range header brilliantly pushed out by Parish from a Kingsley corner in the 63rd minute.

The visitors put the pressure on in the closing stages but the closest they went to an equaliser was a Souttar header that came back off the crossbar.

What the managers said...

St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson: "It's a massive three points relative to the season but we've got to keep pressing, keep pushing forward - it's only three points so let's get another three points and keep climbing the league.

"I thought in the first 70 minutes we were really good. Melker Hallberg was outstanding for 70 minutes, along with the rest of the players. The first goal was superb.

The performance was great to see. I said to (coach) Steven MacLean it was back to enjoying watching them play again and seeing their desire to go and do things.

"As a defender, I enjoy watching them making tackles and blocking crosses. Too easily we've let crosses come in this season but we gave help to the back three and the keeper today. Elliott Parish made some great saves to help get us the three points.

"At home we've struggled for some form but they had confidence and belief in themselves today. You can see the confidence coming back into the team - I've seen it coming back since the Kelty game (in the Scottish Cup last month) and now we all want to start climbing the league and putting teams under pressure.

"It's about looking forward and being positive and it was easy to be that way after today."

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson: "It was a disappointing performance. The last two weeks haven't been good enough for the level we've shown we can get to. We've had a really good start and middle to the season but we're going through a wee dip just now.

"We need to get back to being aggressive with the ball. We were tentative which was disappointing. We should be putting on a better display and have to take the flak that comes with losing but we're sitting clear in third and we need to remember where we are. We aren't a good enough team to win every single week."

What's next?

St Johnstone travel to Ross County, while Hearts visit St Mirren, with both Scottish Premiership games kicking off at 3pm next Saturday.

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