Hearts broken as St Johnstone come from behind to ensure Betfred Cup progress
Jamie Walker scored another controversial penalty but his former team-mates Danny Swanson and Brad McKay combined to send Hearts out of the Betfred Cup.
Walker was freed to play after Hearts challenged the two-match ban he was offered for an alleged dive against Celtic and he put them ahead on the stroke of half-time, just after Callum Paterson had cancelled out Swanson's spectacular early opener for St Johnstone.
But the hosts showed characteristic fighting spirit to get back in the game through Swanson's 75th-minute penalty and McKay soon sealed a 3-2 second-round win as he headed home on his first St Johnstone appearance for a year.
Hearts had the first chance when Conor Sammon latched on to Paul Paton's loose pass before driving the ball against the post from 20 yards.
Saints, who were without the injured Graham Cummins and Murray Davidson, struck in the 10th minute. Liam Craig disguised a square pass from a free-kick and Swanson side-footed a measured shot from almost 30 yards, which looped under the bar and into the top corner.
The hosts set about frustrating Hearts - even manager Tommy Wright, who clashed with Paterson as the full-back tried to retrieve the ball for a throw-in - and they were next to threaten when Jack Hamilton pushed Blair Alston's long-range shot away.
But Hearts suddenly found their goal threat as half-time approached. Alan Mannus pushed away Robbie Muirhead's free-kick but was beaten from Igor Rossi's subsequent cross as Paterson rose to head down and over the line.
And the visitors benefited from a huge slice of fortune in the final minute of the half. Paterson knocked the ball past a limping Tam Scobbie, who had received treatment for an injury seconds earlier, and appeared to run into him with the ball lost - but referee Crawford Allan pointed to the spot. As Wright raged on the touchline, Walker sent Mannus the wrong way.
With McKay on for Scobbie, Saints came out fighting and Brian Easton had a shot beaten away before Hamilton tipped over Craig's strike after a precise corner from Swanson.
Hearts began to look more dangerous on the break and Walker stayed on his feet despite stumbling under the close attentions of two Saints players, only for his cutback to be cleared.
Swanson blazed over and Alston shot straight at Hamilton before Saints got a stonewall penalty after Alim Ozturk misjudged a sliding tackle after a break of the ball favoured Swanson.
The midfielder stroked the spot-kick home and he helped set up the winner five minutes later when his corner was flicked on by Steven MacLean before being finished off by McKay, who spent much of last season on loan at Dunfermline.
Source: PA
