The new manager bounce has well and truly gone for St Johnstone.
A 2-1 defeat at home to Hearts makes it two losses in four days and has brought Simo Valakari’s promising start back down to Earth.
The capital club have a great record against Saints – they have now won their last seven league encounters.
But this is the worst Jambos team, in terms of form, for some time and they started the day at the bottom of the Premiership table.
Nonetheless, Saints looked far more regressive than in their recent wins against Ross County and Dundee. Those intense, dynamic performances are a fading memory already.
And as Kenneth Vargas netted the winning goal, McDiarmid Park supporters will cling to the hope that a first full week on the training ground with the new manager will build towards a swift improvement.
Lewis Neilson was unavailable to play against his parent club while Matt Smith was dropped, with Barry Douglas handed his first St Johnstone and Graham Carey also coming in.
There was little goalmouth action in the opening stages until Lawrence Shankland had a good opportunity to put Hearts ahead on 16 minutes.
A careless giveaway from the Perth defence found the Scotland striker with his back to goal. But his shot on the pivot dragged just wide of the post.
Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon was first called into action on 19 minutes. Nicky Clark’s free-kick curled goalward but the 41-year-old stretched to palm wide.
Carey’s corner found Jack Sanders who headed back into the danger zone. Sven Sprangler’s improvised volley look goal bound before being blocked.
Winger Alan Forrest was proving a menace and struck over on 22 minutes as the game slowly livened up.
Then shortly after came the opener in unfortunate circumstances.
Brian Spittal’s corner was heading with pace into the near post. Nicky Clark attempted to head clear but he didn’t get a firm enough connection before glanced into the net.
A superb flick around the corner by Carey found Adama Sidibeh who could have driven towards goal but instead he paused, and shot well wide.
His attempt looked that of a striker with a goal drought and a lack of confidence.
The home crowd tried to usher the blue shirts forward but Hearts held firm until half time.
Perth stopper Ross Sinclair was replaced with Josh Rae due to a groin issue.
Simo urged the rest of his players to up the gears at the restart and they responded.
Jason Holt looked positive most of the afternoon and struck the bar within a couple of minutes.
Carey’s in-swinging cross found Sidibeh whose glanced header was destined for the bottom corner before a superb Gordon save.
Then, St Johnstone’s persistence paid of and they equalised just after the hour mark – with the help of VAR.
Hearts substitute Cammy Devlin was judged to have pulled down Kyle Cameron in the six-yard box during a corner.
Up stepped Clark who swept home to make amends for his first-half own goal.
But with 14 minutes remaining Hearts snatched the lead once again.
Beni Baningime will be bragging to his mates about his assist. He bypassed at least three Saints players through the heart of the midfield before teeing up substitute Kenneth Vargas for the winner.
Saints were back to the drawing board once again.
Some heads were scratching as Valakari subbed off Sidibeh and Clark in his search for an equaliser. On came Makenzie Kirk and Matt Smith.
Vargas broke clean through but the Costa Rican was denied a second from a charging Rae.
Saints never truly recovered from conceding their second goal and couldn’t muster one last chance to level things up.
Next up is a trip to Motherwell next Saturday.
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Line-up: Sinclair (Rae 45′), Cameron, Sanders, Holt, Clark (Smith 80′), Carey, Wright, Sidibeh (Kirk 80′), Sprangler, Kimpioka, Douglas.
Subs not used: Essel, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Keltjens, Bright, Franczak.
Referee: Chris Graham
VAR: Alan Muir
Attendance: 5917