St Johnstone vs Heart Of Midlothian FC Prediction & Betting Tips - Scottish Premiership

Prediction published on 26/12/2022, 07:15  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 26/12/2022 at 08:57 in Football Predictions

Fifth placed St Johnstone host Hearts who are fourth in the Scottish Premiership. St Johnstone are a point behind their opponents but have played a game more than Hearts. They are also only a single point behind third placed Aberdeen as they bid to secure a spot in European competition next season. St Johnstone have played two games since the Scottish Premiership season resumed after the World Cup break. They had to come from behind to win 2-1 at Ross County with Ali Crawford scoring both their goals. They didn't build on that win though and weren't expected to as they lost 4-1 at Celtic. That defeat ended a run of six unbeaten league matches. Home form has seen St Johnstone win only three of their eight league games. Only eight goals have been scored with just six conceded. Their only defeat in the last six home league fixtures was inflicted on them by Celtic. Three of the last four home league fixtures has seen both teams get on the scoresheet.

Hearts are only behind third place on goal difference and they have a game in hand on Aberdeen. They have earned four points from the two games played since the season resumed. First off they beat Kilmarnock 3-1 at home with Lawrence Shankland scoring two of them. Their most recent match saw them held to a 2-2 away draw at bottom-of-the-table Dundee United. They twice had to come from behind to earn that point with a late Shankland penalty leveling the scores. Hearts are unbeaten in their last three league games with only an away loss at Rangers in the last six. Away form has seen them win only two of their nine games in the Scottish Premiership. Only one of the last five has been won on the road with three of the last five seeing both teams score. That looks a stat which can come up again in this fixture.