Last time out at Tynecastle the points were secured with a sensational 60-yard welly.
But with no big Humph this time Hearts were grateful for some classic Josh Ginnelly. The red hot forward returned from suspension and took his season tally to eight with a double to see off St Johnstone. And while Stephen Humphrys’ wonder goal was still talk of the toon before kick off it was Ginnelly who was the toast of Tynecastle come full-time.
The former Preston forward is in the form of his life dovetailing brilliantly with Lawrence Shankland and left the park to a standing ovation when Garang Kuol took his place with 12 minutes to go. How the Jambos faithful must be hoping to see a new contract heading his way with his deal due up in the summer. Hearts were ultimately comfortable with Jorge Grant adding a third thanks to a Barrie McKay assist as they teed themselves up for a massive double header with Celtic.
Delighted boss Robbie Neilson hailed Ginnelly’s impact and has now challenged his side to go to Celtic Park on Wednesday and win before welcoming the Hoops to Tynecastle in the Scottish Cup quarter final next weekend. He said: “The win was really important. We go to Parkhead and then they come here, it is always difficult.
“We need to go there and try and win the game. We have a way of playing and we want to take that to Celtic, challenge ourselves against one of the top teams in the country. They are outstanding at the moment, have a great squad and good manager. It’s a hard place to go and if we go there and just bang it we will get beat so we need to go and play the way we want to.
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“We miss Josh’s pace, his energy, when he’s not playing. I think that understanding he has with Shankland as well, it allows Shankland to drop in because Ginnelly will threaten in behind, the two of them worked really well together.”
Neilson - who revealed Humphrys missed out with a knee injury but should be back for the cup clash with Celtic - also praised McKay who had to defend himself last week from far criticism.
He said: “Barrie's probably technically the best player we've got. You see in games teams will put two players on him or three players and it can be difficult at times. I've said it a million times, we had so many injuries at the start of the season that we were asking our creative players to play Sunday-Thursday-Sunday-Thursday-Sunday-Thursday. They lose that spark. I think you are starting to see the best of Barrie now.”
The 3-0 scoreline is harsh on a St Johnstone side - without injured Andy Considine and Nicky Clark - that left Gorgie cursing former hero Zander Clark who produced a string of first half saves with the Jambos only a goal ahead. The keeper had to get down smart early on to parry Stevie May’s low drive after the Hearts number one had himself gifted possession away.
The big keeper’s successor in the Saints goal is no slouch either and Remi Matthews reacted superbly to block Michael Smith’s fizzing volley from close in after a neat one-two with Lawrence Shankland. The Crystal Palace loanee had absolutely no chance as Hearts blasted ahead after 21 minutes though.
Ginnelly picked the ball up on the right flank and was afforded too much room as he cut across the 18 yard line before firing a left footed effort that flew off the toe of Liam Gordon leaving Matthews completely helpless. Saints were far from out of this and Clark produced heroics when he somehow clawed out Drey Wright’s effort from May’s cutback.
Clark then did brilliantly to touch a dipping Cammy MacPherson effort over as he almost single-handedly kept the Perth men at bay before half time. Saints continued to stretch the Jam Tarts’ backline after the break with May typically emptying the tank in a bid to create an opening.
But with the pace Hearts can break they were always vulnerable to the counter and a slick move down the left involving Cochrane and McKay saw the latter tee up Ginnelly to tap home from inside the six yard box to double the lead after 63 minutes. And the points were secured with 18 minutes left when Grant whipped a wicked ball in from the right which flew through a ruck of players and nestled in the far corner.
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