Preview: St Johnstone vs. Hearts - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts enter the season on the back of an embarrassing exit from the League Cup and face a tricky start in the league.

Match preview

That shambolic showing from St Johnstone saw them eliminated even before the final game in the section.

With nothing to play for but pride in the final fixture, the side did anything but, being thrashed 4-0 at home by League One Stirling Albion.

Steven MacLean's side finished the section level on points with fourth-tier Stenhousemuir, who also beat them earlier in the group.

To make a start so badly is a surprise considering St Johnstone finished so strong last season, claiming 10 points from their five games in the Relegation Group to avoid the drop.

After their early-season showing, the club are one of the favourites to be relegated though, so MacLean will need a boost soon and an instant reaction to those humbling defeats.

After reaching the group stages in Europe last season, Hearts' early season concerns may be focused on doing so again, and they have been given a favourable start to the season.

They do not face either of the Glasgow giants until gameweek nine in mid-October, by which point a potential second consecutive Europa Conference League group stage campaign could be in full swing.

After six straight defeats late in the regular season, only Celtic beat Hearts in the Championship Group.

A 2-2 draw at Ibrox thanks to a last-minute equaliser and a controversial 1-1 draw with rivals Hibernian ultimately helped them towards another UECL spot.

Despite being outclassed by Fiorentina and Istanbul Basaksehir, Hearts will be determined to make it that far again, and will face either Crusaders or Rosenborg later in the month in qualifying.

Pre-season has not been kind to Hearts though, as they failed to win any of their four friendlies - losing to Plymouth Argyle, Mansfield Town and Leeds United.

St Johnstone form (all competitions):

Hearts pre-season form:

Team News

Dimitar Mitov and Luke Jephcott have been St Johnstone's two most notable summer arrivals, and both could start.

After 10 years at the club, David Wotherspoon left the club, though, and fellow midfielder Melker Hallberg is out injured.

In more positive news though, Maltese right-back James Brown has recently returned from a spell out which saw him miss the June international break.

Craig Halkett and Craig Gordon remain Hearts' only absentees currently, but the side has not strengthened over the summer.

No players have yet arrived, but Michael Smith, Josh Ginnelly and Orestis Kiomourtzoglou have all departed.

Lawrence Shankland, who netted 24 goals last season, is set to be their key player again in attack.

St Johnstone possible starting lineup:

Mitov; Brown, Considine, Gordon, Gallacher; Kucheryavyi, Phillips, Ballantyne, Ferguson; Jephcott, May

Hearts possible starting lineup:

Clark; Atkinson, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley; Nieuwenhof, Haring, Grant; Oda, Shankland, Forrest

We say: St Johnstone 0-2 Hearts

Hearts won all three meetings between the sides last season - scoring nine - and enter this fixture as favourites once again.

Previews by email