CRAIG Levein arrived in Perth hoping to earn the win which had evaded managerial predecessors Paulo Sergio, John McGlynn, Gary Locke, Robbie Neilson and Ian Cathro.
Not since wily old Jim Jefferies was patrolling the Hearts technical area seven years earlier had the capital club departed for Edinburgh with three points to show for their efforts at McDiarmid Park.
Teenage midfielder Harry Cochrane was sent off 15 minutes from the end but Hearts held firm to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games, even if the result ultimately meant that long sequence without a win continued. It was an ignominious end to the week for the 16-year-old Tynecastle prodigy, who had been acclaimed for a goalscoring display in the 4-0 victory which halted Celtic’s 69-game unbeaten record but he was dispatched for a late lunge on Blair Alston, having already been cautioned for a shirt tug on Chris Millar.
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Cochrane will miss out on the Edinburgh derby with Hibs and Levein wasn’t convinced he had made any contact with the Perth player.
“I don’t think the referee saw the challenge. I think he heard their player squeal. I think Harry just tried to stop the ball on the line. Unfortunately we can’t appeal it,” he said.
But St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright argued: “It was a foul so they can have no complaints. I was happy with the performance and a point against a team that is in good form.”
In a lacklustre opening half at odds with the drama dished up to their respective groups of supporters in previous outings against the Old Firm, Saints came closest to breaking the deadlock before the break.
Hearts keeper Jon McLaughlin, en route to a fourth successive clean sheet, had problems coping with the wind gusting into his face and conceded a corner needlessly in the 37th minute.
Alston’s delivery picked out Steven Anderson drifting off the back post and captain Joe Shaughessy powered a six-yard header goalwards, with McLaughlin reacting instinctively to divert it over the crossbar.
The second-half entertainment was much improved, with opportunities created at both ends of the pitch.
Home goalkeeper Zander Clark readjusted his footing impressively in the 57th minute to prevent a Michael Smith cross deflected by Steven Anderson sneaking in at the upright.
Kyle Lafferty then squandered a close-range chance with the target at his mercy by touching Connor Randall’s cross wide.
Substitute David Wotherspoon created an opening within seconds of being introduced for Stefan Scougall with some neat footwork in the penalty area.
But keeper McLaughlin preserved a point by diving to touch away his effort and Saints were unable to end a wait for a home win stretching back to September.