Heart of Midlothian 1 St. Johnstone 1

Clydesdale Bank SPL, Saturday 14 April 2010 - Tynecastle

The first game of the season is nearly always a special occasion. For the only time of the season all the teams start equal and fans share the same dreams, however fanciful they might be for some. So it was that Hearts entertained St. Johnstone on Saturday. Hearts manager Jim Jefferies knows improvements needs to be made and to this end a new strikeforce of Kevin Kyle and Stephen Elliot have arrived in Gorgie with the promise of goals.

Neither man was fit enough to start on Saturday although both came on with thirty minutes left. By then Hearts had taken the lead with a Calum Elliot header following Lee Wallace's near post cross, only for St. Johnstone to reply immediately, with debutant Sam Parkin heading home from 12 yards. Hearts had the better of the game and really should have won it when Saints' Steven Anderson was sent off for scything Suso after 73 minutes. However, Derek McInnes' men defended resolutely and while Kyle and Elliot caused danger they couldn't get the goal Hearts deserved.

It's always disappointing when you don't win your opening game, particularly at home, but Hearts showed enough to suggest a big improvement from last season. Jason Thomson was immense in defence while David Templeton showed plenty of inventiveness. As they proved last season, St. Johnstone are no mugs and will prove difficult opponents for anyone.

My grandson Jack attended his first game and wasn't quite sure what to make of it. But it's early days yet, son. One game down, thirty-seven to go for this season....