The first real chance of the match, however, came for the visitors.
After magnificent work from Hugh Murray to release new signing Stewart Kean, the nippy forward did well in eluding Steven Anderson but missed the target with only the keeper to beat.
St Johnstone, however, were the better side in the first half and after 35 minutes Michael Moore should have done better than hit the post after being presented with a great opportunity by Ian Maxwell.
St Johnstone were looking much more dangerous and after 38 minutes they missed another excellent chance to take the lead.
Peter MacDonald missed a volley 12 yards out from a pin-point Jordan Tait cross.
Inevitably, after 40 minutes, St Johnstone took a deserved lead.
The breakthrough came from a move started by a marvellous through ball from David Hannah freeing MacDonald.
The hitman did exceptionally well to slide the ball across for the onrushing Ryan McCann, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net from four yards.
The second half saw more chances created by the visitors as they chased an equaliser.
Longest serving player, Ricky Gillies, came on as a substitute and quickly came closest to scoring after 61 minutes with an 18-yard drive which the St Johnstone keeper pushed away to safety.