Neil Critchley has told the Hearts fans ‘your team needs you’ after the Ultras group boycotted this crucial win over St Johnstone.

The vocal 300-strong group stayed away from the Premiership basement scrap in protest in the wake of the embarrassing midweek Conference League exit following a 2-2 draw with Petrocub. There were rows of empty seats in the Gorgie Road stand but they ended up missing a rare win. Only a fourth victory in 18 league outings saw Hearts move off the bottom and up to tenth ahead of the Boxing Day derby visit of Hibs.

Birthday-boy James Penrice and Blair Spittal grabbed the crucial goals either side of a penalty from Graham Carey. It was not just the Ultras that made their voice heard as Hearts blew a £1 million Euro bounty on Thursday night and boss Critchley insists he needs everyone pulling in the same direction. Asked about the Ultras’ boycott, Critchley said: “We need them, we need everyone together.

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“We need their support, the support in the ground today was fantastic and it made a difference. This should be an intimidating atmosphere for everyone who comes here. We’ve got to make this like a fortress. To do that, we need everyone with us.

“In a sticky moment, that’s where you turn to the people around you to galvanise you. We’ve had to galvanise ourselves this week. The players need the staff, they need me, but we need them as well.

“We have to do it together and we need the supporters with us. When they’re with us they can see fight and passion on the pitch.

“We showed real grit and determination today and we’ve had to dig it out. They applaud that, they appreciate that. It’s vitally important because that’s what gives you the best chance of having success.

“We don’t need separation and people thinking differently or going off on their own agendas. We all want the same thing. We all want Hearts to be successful. We all need to be thinking forward and aligned in how we do that.”

Tynecastle was quieter than normal without the Ultras but the players helped create a positive atmosphere with a lively start. There were not even three minutes on the clock when Adam Forrester raced up the right flank to connect with Lawrence Shankland’s lay off but his low shot from the edge of the box curled wide.

Shankland then set Wilson free with a clever flick but after rounding goalkeeper Josh Rae the teenager was forced wide and could not find Musa Drammeh with his cut back. This was the kind of start the home team needed as they attempted to get the fans back onside following the disastrous European draw with Petrocub.

Hearts kept probing and got their rewards in the 16th minute through Penrice. Forrester lifted a cross into the box and Penrice stole in across the box to bullet a header beyond Josh Rae. But there was panic for Neil Critchley’s side moments after Saints striker Adama Sidibeh fell to the ground inside the area under a challenge from Kyle Rowles.

Referee John Beaton waved play on before pausing the game when the ball was dead to allow VAR to have a look. Rowles breathed a sigh of relief when Beaton signalled for the game to continue.

Hearts had their tails up and went looking for a second. Forrester again provided a teasing cross and Bozo Mikulic was a relieved man after his attempted clearance was pushed over his own bar by Rae. Hearts thought they had grabbed a two-goal cushion in the 38th minute but Wilson’s fine strike from 15 yards was chalked off by VAR for offside.

The teenager - fresh from signing a new deal - was just the wrong side of the red line as he made his way back to take part in the build up to the attack. Saints brought on Carey at the break and the playmaker had an immediate impact.

It was his free-kick into the box that struck the hand of Penrice for the penalty. Beaton initially let the game continue before being told to review footage of the incident. And Carey swept a low shot from 12 yards into the corner to bring the visitors level in the 53rd minute.

It was another tough call on Penrice with the left-back having conceded a converted penalty for the third game running. Critchley made his feelings clear over that decision, adding: “It’s not a penalty in my opinion. I’m not a fan of VAR because it creates moments like that. Whether it goes for or against you, I just don’t think it should be in the game. I think it spoils the game.”

This was going to be another test of Hearts’ character and the Saints fans were loving their team’s fight back with mocking chants ‘Is this a library?’. But the home side had the perfect response with Spittal restoring their lead in the 58th minute.

Penrice’s corner came back to him and his second cross was sliced into the air by Saints defender Jack Sanders. Spittal was waiting to pounce on the edge of the box and he showed great technique to slam a low volley past Rae. Saints piled on the pressure as they looked to capitalise on an increasingly anxious home support. But Hearts still looked dangerous on the counter and sub Kenneth Vargas was denied by a fine save from Rae.

It was a fraught end to the match and Hearts fans and players let out a collective sigh of relief at hearing Beaton’s full-time whistle.