Grainger hails battling Saints

Hearts full-back Danny Grainger is not surprised former club St Johnstone have started the season so well despite a number of summer changes. Saints lost Grainger and Michael Duberry from their regular back four but have continued their impressive defensive record from last season, having yet to concede a goal away from home.The Perth side only scored 23 goals in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League last term, less than relegated Hamilton, but the arrival of Francisco Sandaza has given them a lift with the Spaniard already on six goals.So Grainger expects a tough afternoon when Hearts visit McDiarmid Park tomorrow."You don't get any easy games in the SPL," Grainger said."Going back to McDiarmid will be difficult, they seem to have solved their goalscoring problems with Sandaza and Cillian Sheridan."There were players there when I was there who were more than capable of filling in when the likes of me and Doobs (Duberry) were going to leave."You have Dave Mackay, Alan Maybury and Steven Anderson who were there last year, who played a massive part when we went on a good run."Grainger added: "I still speak to quite a lot of them, I'm very close to the likes of Liam Craig, Murray Davidson and Graham Gartland so it's going to be strange going back there."The former Gretna and Dundee United left-back has no regrets about leaving despite the man who signed him, Jim Jefferies, being replaced by Paulo Sergio early in the season.Grainger said: "I'm really enjoying it, I'm enjoying the banter in the dressing room and loving the football."Now we are all starting to get used to the new manager and it's starting to show on the pitch."Hearts have yet to win away from home but Grainger is confident that will change soon."If you look at the last two away games, Kilmarnock and Inverness, I don't think many teams will go there and get a great result."We got two draws so hopefully we can continue building on our home form and pick up a few wins on the road."

Source: Team_Talk