Hearts boss Robbie Neilson accepts he has to take the flak after defeat in Perth.
But he says he also has to look at the bigger picture.
Neilson’s team were booed off the pitch having lost to St Johnstone, who were bottom of the table prior to kick-off just as Dundee were before winning at Tynecastle 10 days earlier.
The boss didn’t hide, but looked for perspective as he said: “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 and we’re going through a wee dip.
“We aren’t a good enough team to win every single week. We’re sitting clear in third and we need to remember where we are.
“We should be putting on a better display and have to take the flak that comes with losing, but I have to look at the bigger picture. We know we will have ups and downs.
“We came up from the Championship and we are a big club and are expected to win but we are still building as a team. Two years ago we were bottom.
“There’s massive negativity because we lost last week and this week and we have to stick together and push forwards.”
Neilson, meanwhile, discussed the interest of St Mirren in Hearts youth coach Steven Naismith.
He said: “Steven is a coach who’s come in and is doing a really good job with the 18s. I’m very impressed with him, but there will be a number of coaches they’re looking at.
“We see him every day in training. Whether it’s one for him is up to him to decide, but I think it’ll be a long shortlist for that one.”
Goals from Ali Crawford and Jamie McCart capped a splendid Saints show as they extended a horror Hearts record of no league wins in a dozen years at McDiarmid Park.
Hearts had moments, but Saints just about deserved it after a start to the match that was electric.
Callum Davidson’s boys were in front inside a minute after a sweeping move which involved Glenn Middleton and Melker Hallberg.
The Swede picked out Crawford’s supporting run into the box and the playmaker’s first-time finish was sublime.
Hearts keeper Ross Stewart, in for a first Premiership game to replace covid absentee Craig Gordon, hadn’t even touched the ball, but his team were level almost immediately through Nathaniel Atkinson.
The inventive Barrie Mckay curled a shot against a post and the Aussie was sharpish to the rebound which he slotted beyond Elliot Parish, who stood in for Zander Clark.
The action barely relented until the interval, albeit without addition to the scoreline.
Ellis Simms took advantage of slack defending at a set piece to hit Parish’s other post, while Murray Davidson zipped a controlled half volley inches wide.
Hearts threatened upon resumption with Simms off target on a couple of occasion, but the tide turned.
Crawford struck over before McCart hit the eventual winner with 55 minutes on the clock.
Hallberg swung a free-kick to the far post and the defender escaped offside to meet the dangerous delivery with a thumping header back across a static Stewart.
The keeper denied McCart soon afterwards as Saints tried to finish it, yet Hearts roared back and could have nabbed a point.
Parish made a superb save to tip John Souttar’s header over from a Stephen Kingsley corner and, after the defender hit the bar with another effort, Parish grabbed Peter Haring’s follow up on the line.
The Saints keeper’s late save from Simms to seal the deal for his team and delighted Saints boss Callum Davidson said: “The first 70 minutes we were really good. The first goal was superb.
“It’s about being positive. At home we struggled for some form, but you can see the confidence coming back.
“I saw it coming after the Kelty game and now we all want to start climbing the league and putting teams under pressure.
“It’s a massive three points relative to the season, but it’s only three points, so let’s get some more.”
