Hearts vs St Johnstone Prediction: Shankland to strike again?

With just two games to go of the Scottish Premiership season, St Johnstone know they need to win at least one of those to have any chance of survival. They currently sit bottom of the table but are just three points behind Ross County, who occupy the relegation play-off place. 

Next up, they travel to the team that sits top of the bottom half, Hearts (19:45), hoping to secure back-to-back victories. Below you can find my Hearts vs St Johnstone predictions featuring betting tips and more. 

Team News

Lawrence Shankland scored twice for Hearts last time out and will lead the line again, while Alan Forrest also scored from the left wing. Kenneth Vargas and James Wilson will battle it out for the other starting spot in the front three, while Beni Baningime will continue to provide protection for the back four. 

Gerald Taylor remains the only absentee through injury for the home side, who are set to make Derek McInnes their new manager according to the bookmakers, after the exit of Neil Critchley. 

Meanwhile, Simo Johannes Valakari may name an unchanged XI after his side got a rare victory last time out against Ross County. Uche Ikpeazu, Adama Sidebeh and Joshua McPake could be deployed as the front three once again, while centre-back Daniels Balodis rose up with a big goal in that recent victory. 

Midfielder Elliot Watt also found the net in the 2-1 win, while teenager Sam Curtis had a great game at wing-back. I’m expecting the same XI to come out against Hearts here. 

Hearts vs St Johnstone Odds

Hearts are priced at 8/11 to win this game, with St Johnstone available at 4/1. That gives the home side an implied win probability of 58% while a draw is available at 3/1. 

Over 2.5 goals has come in during 55% of Hearts games and can be backed at 10/11, while BTTS is 10/11. Elton Kabangu is the favourite to score first at 4/1. 

Hearts to win @ 8/11

This may be a boring selection, but I think it is the right one. Hearts have won their last two games and scored three goals in each of those wins so I don’t think they will have too much trouble in brushing St Johnstone aside, despite that recent victory for the visitors. 

Hearts have looked good since sacking Critchley two weeks ago and that freedom appears to be instilled in the players as their season comes to an end. They will want to finish top of a competitive bottom half and know that two more wins will secure that, with this game a chance to put down another marker. 

All the pressure is on the visitors to come out and win this game, and that could backfire on them as they leave themselves open to being picked off. 

Lawrence Shankland to score @ 13/10

I’ll back Shankland to find the net at any time, given he scored twice last time out and St Johnstone have leaked goals all season. The away side have conceded 64 goals in 36 games, which is the main reason they find themselves staring in the face of relegation this term. 

Meanwhile, Hearts have been lethal in front of goal lately, and Shankland has stepped up to the plate after an underwhelming campaign. He’s scored a brace in each of his last two outings, so let’s back him to find the net again at any time in this one, as Hearts look set for another victory. 

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