Simo wary of threat to their survival hopes from Jambos

SIMO VALAKARI has told his St Johnstone players to treat tonight's trip to Hearts as a must-win match as they bid to keep their Premiership survival hopes alive.

- By Anthony Brown

Last-placed Saints moved within three points of second-bottom Ross County when they beat their relegation rivals 2-1 on Saturday.

They need another big effort at Tynecastle as they know they will be relegated if they fail to win and County triumph away to Dundee. A Saints victory in Edinburgh will ensure the fight goes to the last day.

Asked if he felt it was a game his side had to win, manager Valakari, above, replied: “Yes, because we cannot know how the other results will go. So, as always, we prepare ourselves to win it.

“We are still in this fight and now it's a different challenge, Wednesday night to play against Hearts.

“It's their last home match, they want to show how good they are for their own fans, so we really need to be up for it and take the confidence that we are a good team and move it to the Wednesday night.”

Hearts sacked Neil Critchley last month after a run of five games without a win in which they scored only one goal.