Hearts win thriller on return to the top flight

Neilson was delighted with his side’s character after being hampered by a host of injury problems during pre-season.

The Hearts fans were already in good mood after owner Ann Budge unfurled the Championship title flag just before kick-off, a nd the feel good factor was enhanced when new signing Delgado gave the Premiership newcomers the lead inside four minutes. The majority of the huge Tynecastle crowd lapped it up and they had barely settled into their seats when their favourites took the lead.

Tommy Wright’s side then dragged themselves level with efforts from John Sutton and Graham Cummins before Nicholson had the final say.

“I have a lot of belief in the players”, he added. He could have kept going himself but instead slipped the ball wide to Nicholson, who was hauled down by Mannus.

He said: “There is no doubt we should have got something from the game”.

Hearts two goal advantage didn’t last long.

But the former Kalloni player played his part in Hearts’ second in the 52nd minute.

Sam Nicholson was the matchwinner with an 80th-minute strike as six goals were shared during a chaotic 27-minute period in the second half.

It looked like the youngster’s miss would prove costly for the home side.

St Johnstone grabbed themselves a lifeline in the 56th minute when Simon Lappin arrived at the far post to force home from close range after Neil Alexander, who claimed he had been impeded, failed to deal with Joe Shaughnessy’s long throw into the box.

Anguish emanated from the Tynecastle stands as Hearts appeared to have thrown away a two goal lead.

Gorgie gaffer Robbie Neilson was a relieved man after the game.

“It was a bit of indecision, an unfortunate mistake, but he recovered well”, Wright told BBC Scotland. “We wanted to get three points, we managed to do it, but the manner in which we did it wasn’t what we were looking for”.

“He still hasn’t played 90 minutes for us”.

“We patched them up to try to get them out for this game – Rossi, Augustyn, Juanma, Prince Buaben as well, but I thought they were all fantastic”.

He said: “We knew it was going to be really hard”.

St Johnstone (4-4-2): Mannus, Shaughnessy, McKay, Scobbie, Easton; Wotherspoon (Kane 85), Millar (Brown 20), Craig, Lappin (Cummins 68); O’Halloran, Sutton.