St Johnstone missed out on the chance to move above Celtic and into third place but maintained their good run in the League after sharing the spoils at McDiarmid Park.

An early goal from former Manchester City defender Alan Kernaghan gave the Saints high hopes of repeating their comprehensive defeat of Hearts in the League Cup semi-final.

But Jim Hamilton's equaliser assured Jim Jefferies' side of a point, although the solitary point also cost the visitors the chance of jumping up into fourth place.

Hearts made one change from the side which defeated Celtic on Sunday - Vincent Guerin dropping out to be replaced by Gary Locke. Home boss Sandy Clark kept face with the side which drew with Dundee United at the weekend.

Saints started in determined fashion and shocked their opponents with an eighth minute opener. Kernaghan took full advantage of Roddy Grant's knock-back from a Paul Kane corner to nod his side ahead.

An enforced substitution changed the pattern of the game when the unfortunate Locke left the field with an injury sustained in a challenge with the innocent Gary Bollan.

Spanish winger Juanjo brought some much needed spice to the Hearts attack and made an immediate impact.

French striker Stephane Adam should have levelled the scores in the 24th minute but Alan Main blocked his shot and Juanjo curled the rebound over the bar.

However, Hearts grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 32nd minute through former Scotland under-21 striker Hamilton.

Adam's cross was nodded across the face of goal by David Weir and Hamilton had the simple task of tapping into an empty net.

The second half had its fair share of controversial moments.

The first flashpoint arrived in the 50th minute when John O'Neil appeared to be tripped in the box by Paul Ritchie.

Referee Alan Freeland only awarded a freekick on the edge of the box which incensed the home support.

It was clearly a case of the Aberdeen whistler making up for his earlier mistake when he inexplicably pointed to the spot in the 69th minute.

Grant appeared to tumble with Ritchie in the box and the Hearts players could scarcely believe it when Freeland pointed to the spot.

Ritchie was booked for his protests but keeper Gilles Rousset ensured justice was done with an excellent save from Grant's spotkick.

The controversial penalty award arrived 10 minutes after Nathan Lowndes had replaced Miguel Simao.

Hearts had been threatening to take control of the match, but his introduction swung the game back in Saints' favour.

It was Lowndes who almost grabbed an injury-time winner but his curling shot drifted inches wide.

Teams

St Johnstone: Main, McQuillan, Dasovic, Kernaghan, Scott, O'Neil, Grant (McAnespie 76), Kane, Bollan, Dods, Simao (Lowndes 60).

Subs Not Used: McMahon, Griffin, Robertson.

Goals: Kernaghan 8.

Hearts: Rousset, McPherson (Pressley 80), Naysmith, Weir, Ritchie, Fulton, Adam, Hamilton, Locke (Carricomdo 21), Flogel, Murray.

Subs Not Used: McKinnon, Hogarth, Holmes.

Booked: Ritchie, Murray.

Goals: Hamilton 31.

Att: 4,808

Ref: A Freeland (Aberdeen).