St Johnstone fans can start looking out their passports once more with their side securing a place in Europe with this narrow but deserved win over Partick Thistle at McDiarmid Park.
Danny Swanson scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the first-half with Saints creating a host of chances in the second 45.
The Perth side had gone into the game knowing that just a point against Partick would cement their place in fourth spot in the Premiership table and secure European football once again after Hearts lost at Ibrox against Rangers in the lunchtime kick-off.
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright made three changes from the side that lost at Celtic Park last week with Alan Mannus replacing Zander Clark between the sticks while David Wotherspoon came in for Blair Alston and Tam Scobbie replaced suspended skipper Steven Anderson.
The first meaningful chance of the game fell to the Jags in the 13th minute when Ryan Edwards capitalised on a defensive mix-up and let fly with an angled drive but Mannus dived to his right to push the ball to safety.
St Johnstone were struggling in an attacking sense with Jags keeper Tomas Cerny a virtual spectator.
That inaction could partly account for the mess he made of a Swanson long-range shot just before the half-hour mark but when he spilled the ball, there was no-one in a Saints shirt able to take advantage.
However, St Johnstone did take the lead in the 33rd minute. Swanson skipped into the Thistle box and was tripped by Niall Keown with referee Stephen Finnie having no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Swanson dusted himself down before calmly dispatching the penalty low to Cerny’s right and into the corner of the net.
Saints started the second 45 in determined fashion and Cerny had to look lively to hold a 22-yard fierce shot from Liam Craig.
Shortly after, Craig turned provider when he sent a dangerous free-kick in from the left with Cerny having to pull off a fantastic save to keep out a Scobbie header.
David Wotherspoon then played an incisive pass into the advancing Richard Foster as he burst into the Jags box with Cerny again coming to the rescue, diving at the full-back’s feet to snuff out the danger.
Saints had another huge shout for a penalty when Thistle sub Steven Lawless barged into the back of Paul Paton, sending the home midfielder tumbling but this time Mr Finnie was not convinced.
Wright’s men continued to dominate and in the 74th minute Swanson embarked on a great run before unleashing a rising shot that Cerny did well to tip over.
The St Johnstone playmaker, who will be joining Hibs next season, was substituted in the 86th minute and came off to a standing ovation from the home fans who were celebrating shortly after as the referee blew for full-time.
For full reaction and analysis, see Monday’s Courier.
