A first-half goal from Stevie May was enough for St Johnstone to record a 1-0 victory over Hearts at McDiarmid Park.

The hosts started brightly and broke the deadlock with 25 minutes on the clock when May curled the ball beyond the reach of Jamie Macdonald in the Hearts goal and into the net.

The same player had another chance in the closing stages of the half but failed to hit the target, while Steven Anderson forced Macdonald into making a save from a David Wotherspoon cross.

Macdonald continued to the be the busier of the two goalkeepers after the restart, with both May and Wotherspoon calling him into action.

As the match neared a conclusion, Hearts started to gain a foothold but were unable to breach the home side's citadel.