A 2-0 victory over Dunfermline moved Saints seven points ahead of Partick Thistle with two games left in the Championship season.

Partick Thistle’s draw with Airdrie on Saturday had handed Simo Valakari’s side two chances to claim the title before the Jags next play and they seized their first opportunity.

The Perth side have led the table from the opening day, when they beat Thistle 5-1, although the Maryhill side were level on points at one stage and both teams are on 12-match unbeaten runs in the league.

St Johnstone were taking on a side who played 120 minutes at Hampden on Saturday before their penalty shootout triumph over Falkirk in the Scottish Cup semi-finals and who were playing their third consecutive midweek game.

Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon made five changes to his starting line-up.

Saints had the better of the first half and Josh McPake was yet again the danger man for the visitors. The winger hit the underside of the bar from 15 yards and delivered several teasing balls which Paton could not take advantage of.

Sam Stanton also came close from long range and inadvertently blocked a goal-bound effort from team-mate Morgan Boyes.

The breakthrough came in the 56th minute after the hosts failed to clear their lines. Paton teed up McAlear 22 yards out and the former Livingston midfielder’s first-time shot took a major deflection off the boot of Charlie Gilmour and deceived goalkeeper Aston Oxborough.

The Perth side doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Paton drifted in between the Dunfermline centre-backs and guided a header into the bottom corner from 12 yards following Liam Smith’s cross.

Dunfermline were left with a five-point lead over fifth-placed Raith Rovers, but they could wrap up a play-off place before the weekend with their Fife rivals travelling to McDiarmid Park on Friday.