Hearts leapfrogged Celtic and moved within a point of Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers with a battling 3-2 win at St Johnstone on Monday night.

Jim Jefferies' Edinburgh side proved they must be considered a serious threat to Rangers' stranglehold on the title with a gritty victory at McDiarmid Park in Perth.

Hearts threw away a two-goal lead, just as they had a week ago against Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby, but regained the lead 21 minutes from time to hold on for the win.

Striker Jim Hamilton was Hearts' hero with two goals, including the 69th minute winner.

Gary Naysmith scored the other, while Callum Davidson and George O'Boyle grabbed the goals for the Saints.

St Johnstone started brightly with wing-back Davidson, who has had a £1m price tag slapped on him, doubtless impressing the watching Newcastle manager Kenny Dalglish and Rangers' boss Walter Smith.

But Naysmith cleared the Saints' best effort, a header from Canadian international Nick Dasovic, off the line.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play in the 28th minute when Hamilton finished clinically from David Weir's cross.

A spectacular Naysmith volley flew into the net seven minutes later to put Hearts 2-0 up.

Jim Hamilton scored Hearts' winner

St Johnstone bounced back after the break when Davidson slotted home after a one-two with O'Boyle.

And the Perth side equalised in the 62nd minute when Dave McPherson brought down Tommy Wright in the box; O'Boyle netted his ninth goal of the season from the penalty spot.

But seven minutes later Steve Fulton released Hamilton, who hammered the ball through goalkeeper Alan Main's legs from a tight angle.

With Celtic stumbling at Motherwell at the weekend, Hearts move above the Bhoys and within a point of Rangers, who are bidding to win their 10th consecutive championship.
 

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