St Johnstone were at their Sunday best in Sunday’s high-noon shootout as they secured their first home league win of the season.
Two clinical goals by Cillian Sheridan decided the contest, with the big Irishman the beneficiary of outstanding assists from his striking partner Fran Sandaza in each half.
The win moves the Perth side into joint fourth position in the league with Hearts an achievement which delighted manager Derek McInnes, especially after last week’s disappointing League Cup exit against St Mirren.
He said: “I am very pleased and I thought we thoroughly deserved the win. It is no mean feat to beat Hearts and to do that we had to work really hard. I felt we were clinical at one end and dogged and resilient in defence and I am delighted to come away with three points.
“Big Fran has been getting a lot of the plaudits as he brings a bit of swagger for us at the top end of the pitch, but he would be the first to acknowledge how hard Cillian is working. I am really pleased for him and hopefully he can now go on a wee run of goals.”
Sheridan is sporting a questionable moustache but Saints team-mate Chris Millar insisted he cannot shave it off after netting his first goals of the season.
He said: “Cillian has an off-the-wall sense of humour which is why he has that moustache just now. It worked for him today so he will need to keep it if he wants to continue his goalscoring form.
“Cillian and Fran add that wee bit of quality up front and the league table tells its own story of where we are going.”