St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright was delighted his players could pay tribute to retired skipper Dave Mackay with their 1-0 victory over Hearts.
The McDiarmid Park side earned all three points with a second-half strike from Graham Cummins and celebrated by holding aloft Mackay’s number two shirt.
The defender was forced to hang up his boots this week because of a hip injury and Wright was thrilled Saints were able to dedicate the winning goal to their team-mate.
Wright said: “I didn’t know it was happening and I’m just pleased they were able to do it.
“It’s great. It’s been a sad week but in amongst that sadness about Dave retiring it’s the right decision for him, personally, and we wish him well.
“All the accolades he’s had this week are deserved because he’s been a great servant. He’s been my captain and I’ll miss him on the pitch.”
Hearts would have gone top of the Ladbrokes Premiership with a victory in Perth but found Saints goalkeeper Zander Clark in inspired form as he denied Faycal Rherras and Jamie Walker before the interval and Tony Watt after the break.
Wright added: “I’m delighted, and delighted for the players. There’s no doubt Hearts had the better chances.
“But I felt some of their great opportunities came from catching us on the counter-attack, which we didn’t deal with.
“We put poor balls into the box and didn’t deal with the ball coming out and the second ball and they broke.
“Zander has made two unbelievable saves to his left in the first half and an incredible save to his left from the free-kick as well.
“The goalkeeper’s been excellent and we defended well.
“I said to the new players after the game that’s the St Johnstone way at times. We get results when, really, very few teams would dig out a result against a good side.”
Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson was sent to the stand with 14 minutes remaining and claims it was because the fourth official accused him of applauding sarcastically.
Neilson said: “I was sent to the stand for clapping. (Sam) Nicholson puts a good delivery in, we get a good attack at it, I clap it.
“The fourth official thought it was sarcastic at the ref for a decision and I got sent to the stand.
“We were trying to get our fans to clap with a good performance and being entertaining but obviously I’m not allowed to clap.
“Not a word was said at all, no swearing, nothing.”
