Heart of Midlothian secured a gritty 2-1 victory over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, bolstered by two goals from newcomer Elton Kabangu and stellar goalkeeping from Craig Gordon. This win propels Hearts to seventh place in the Scottish Premiership, just one point shy of the coveted top six as they shift gears after starting the season at the foot of the table.
The match took place under challenging conditions. Heavy rain had left the pitch sodden, raising concerns about the game’s viability. Nevertheless, following pre-match inspections, the referee deemed it playable, much to the delight of the traveling Hearts fans who packed the ground. Their enthusiasm was met with anticipation as the team promised to continue their recent recovery.
Despite recent struggles with form, Hearts lined up unchanged from their last match, which ended in disappointment against Rangers. Manager Neil Critchley emphasized the necessity of adapting to the challenging conditions during the game, urging his players to find their rhythm amid the slippery turf.
The first half unfolded as expected, with both teams struggling initially to cope with the heavy pitch. St Johnstone gained possession early but could not convert their chances, with Hearts’ defense momentarily under pressure. The visitors, finding it difficult to progress through the midfield, had to rely on quick counterattacks.
It wasn’t until the 36th minute when Hearts finally broke the deadlock. After some interplay involving midfielder Beni Baningime and left-back James Penrice, striker Lawrence Shankland executed a clever assist, enabling Kabangu to find the net from close range. The goal was initially checked by VAR, but the decision was confirmed, igniting jubilant celebrations among the visiting fans.
Despite having the lead, Hearts faced immediate pressure, with Craig Gordon forced to produce his trademark saves to deny Sam Curtis shortly after the equalizer from St Johnstone. Defender Adama Sidibeh had leveled the match for St Johnstone with a textbook header, but Gordon’s incredible stop kept Hearts hopes alive.
Just as Hearts seemed to be wavering, Kabangu struck again, scoring his second goal and restoring his side's lead within minutes. Following strong play from Shankland, who was effectively playing both as support and forward, Kabangu showcased calm finishing skills to slide the ball home past goalkeeper Andy Fisher.
"I’m delighted for Elton. He showed resilience after last week’s missed chances," Critchley noted after the match. This performance put Kabangu as the team’s top scorer since joining on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise, underlining his growing importance to the squad as he transitions fully from training ground potential to matchday impact.
Hearts continued to face danger, especially as St Johnstone pushed hard for another equalizer. The Perth side’s persistence almost paid off, but offside rulings and another stunning save from Gordon ensured Hearts would leave with all three points. Critchley praised both Kabangu for his two goals and Gordon for his pivotal saves, sharing post-match reflections on the significance of each player’s contributions.
St Johnstone’s manager, Simo Valakari, acknowledged the lack of clinical finishing from his side, noting their struggles to convert solid possession and create meaningful goal-scoring opportunities. "We must continue to fight and believe we can climb out of this rut," he stated, as the result leaves St Johnstone firmly at the bottom of the league.
This win for Hearts is significant not only for their position but also for their morale as they prepared to face St Mirren next. Critchley pointed out the importance of their immediate fixtures, confident their recent form could point toward potential European football next season if they maintain this upward momentum.
"Winning brings continuity. We are focused on our next matches and controlling our destiny on the pitch," Critchley expressed, emphasizing the need to keep building on this powerful collective performance.
Heading forward, Hearts now look forward to their upcoming fixtures with renewed confidence and commitment, with the fans aspiring for engagement in European competition come the end of the season. For St Johnstone, the focus will be on regrouping and refining their approach to mount some recovery, aiming to close the gap between themselves and safety.