Saints made most of the running, with Steven Milne twice going close and Cillian Sheridan hitting a post.
Hearts offered little in attack but Gordon Smith was denied a late leveller by a Gary Irvine block.
The manager may have changed at the Edinburgh side but the visitors' approach was as stuffy as ever, with just one shot on target in the whole game.
Jefferies, who led Hearts to Scottish Cup glory in 1998, had less than 24 hours to prepare his side.
He was joined in the dugout by long-time lieutenant Billy Brown and Gary Locke, although neither are yet officially employed by the club.
Hearts enjoyed more possession early on but Saints posed the greater threat, with the ball over the top catching Hearts out on a number of occasions.
Chris Millar saw his shot saved by Marian Kello, while Milne skied his finish under pressure.
With Morais looking lively and Millar industrious, the home side continued to press and an off-balance Milne headed a good opportunity over.
The fit-again Driver his first appearance for almost three months for Hearts when he replaced defender Marius Zaliukas during the interval.
Jefferies was given a warm reception from travelling fansIt took less than a minute of the second half for Hearts to conjure up their first shot, Gary Glen volleying over when well placed after Dave Mackay missed his clearing header.
Deuchar then failed to connect properly with Millar's cross and Milne drilled wide from a tight angle.
The decisive goal arrived on 51 minutes when Danny Grainger's low left-wing cross was turned in by Deuchar, the striker's first SPL goal for almost two years.
Hearts responded when substitute Marius Cinikas crossed for Christian Nade, who should have hit the target with a free header.
Saints were not sitting on their lead and Sheridan side-footed tamely at Kello and Millar saw a shot blocked before Sheridan again finished weakly, this time from outside the penalty box.
With Hearts finally showing some menace, Grainger came to the hosts' rescue when he headed Driver's wicked cross behind.
But Sheridan should have made the game safe when he blasted Milne's cross-cum-shot against the post.
A Driver free-kick was deflected though to Smith, who volleyed over and the teenage substitute later saw what looked a certain equaliser blocked by Irvine in a dramatic close to the match.
St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes: "I thought we were the better team throughout the game, we were more aggressive, first to second balls.
"I'm disappointed we didn't work the goalkeeper a bit more in the first half.
"But in terms of controlling the game and being comfortable at the back, I thought we were excellent and I always thought a goal would come."
Hearts manager Jim Jefferies: "We only really upped the tempo in the last 20 minutes.
"Once Andy Driver got into the game he looked like he was going to cause a problem for them.
"It was a patched up side, with so many injuries, and I didn't know too much about some of the players.
"I saw some good stuff and some that was not so good."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Scottish Premier
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
St Johnstone
1-0
Hearts
R
(HT 0-0)
Deuchar 51
St Johnstone
25 Smith
02 Irvine
03 Grainger
12 MacKay
18 Gartland yellow card
07 Millar yellow card
14 Moon (Sheerin 90+2)
20 Davidson
22 Morais (Craig 78)
09 Milne
17 Deuchar (Sheridan 69)
Substitutes
01 Main,
24 Anderson,
10 Craig,
11 Sheerin,
16 MacDonald,
26 Sheridan,
32 Reynolds
Hearts
25 Kello
02 Kucharski
13 Obua
20 Thomson
21 Ismael Bouzid
26 Zaliukas (Driver 46)
04 Jonsson
23 Stewart yellow card
29 Eisconte (Cinikas 52)
14 Nade
36 Glen (Smith 68)
Substitutes
01 Balogh,
11 Driver,
12 Cinikas,
39 Mulrooney,
44 Smith,
15 David Witteveen,
32 Wallace
Ref: NorrisAtt: 4,752
ST JOHNSTONE HEARTS
Possession
St Johnstone 49%
Hearts 51%
Attempts on target
St Johnstone 9
Hearts 1
Attempts off target
St Johnstone 6
Hearts 3
Corners
St Johnstone 7
Hearts 3
Fouls
St Johnstone 11
Hearts 6
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:14 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+3:21 A cross is delivered by Christian Nade, Chris Millar makes a clearance.
90:00+2:33 Unfair challenge on Michael Stewart by Liam Craig results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Marian Kello.
90:00+2:33 Booking Booking for Michael Stewart.
90:00+1:36 Substitution Kevin Moon goes off and Paul Sheerin comes on.
88:57 A cross is delivered by Cillian Sheridan.
88:15 David MacKay fouled by Christian Nade, the ref awards a free kick. Graeme Smith takes the direct free kick.
86:48 The ball is swung over by Andrew Driver, Close range effort by Gordon Smith goes wide of the right-hand upright.
86:48 Booking Booking for Chris Millar.
86:43 Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Millar on Andrew Driver.
85:30 The ball is delivered by Liam Craig, Shot from inside the six-yard box by Cillian Sheridan hits the post.
84:33 The ball is delivered by Chris Millar, clearance by Dawid Kucharski.
83:22 Corner taken left-footed by Andrew Driver from the right by-line, Graeme Smith makes a save.
82:58 Andrew Driver crosses the ball, Daniel Grainger manages to make a clearance.
81:28 Marius Cinikas crosses the ball.
81:08 The ball is crossed by Marius Cinikas, clearance by Graham Gartland.
79:24 Foul by Marius Cinikas on Liam Craig, free kick awarded. Daniel Grainger delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed
from left wing, save by Marian Kello.
78:34 Kevin Moon concedes a free kick for a foul on Marius Cinikas. Direct free kick taken by Michael Stewart.
77:12 The ball is swung over by Michael Stewart, clearance by Cillian Sheridan.
77:12 Substitution Liam Craig joins the action as a substitute, replacing Filipe Morais.
77:12 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Eggert Jonsson by Gary Irvine.
76:48 Cillian Sheridan takes a shot. Save by Marian Kello.
75:35 Centre by Gary Irvine, Chris Millar takes a shot. Ismael Bouzid gets a block in.
74:58 The ball is crossed by Chris Millar, save by Marian Kello.
73:26 Booking Graham Gartland is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
72:57 Murray Davidson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Eggert Jonsson. Michael Stewart restarts play with the free
kick.
71:40 Gordon Smith is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Graeme Smith takes the indirect free kick.
71:07 Gordon Smith takes a shot. Graeme Smith makes a comfortable save.
70:11 Cillian Sheridan challenges Eggert Jonsson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael Stewart takes the direct free kick.
69:59 Marius Cinikas crosses the ball, Chris Millar manages to make a clearance.
67:36 Michael Stewart restarts play with the free kick.
67:36 Substitution Kenny Deuchar goes off and Cillian Sheridan comes on.
67:36 Substitution Gary Glen leaves the field to be replaced by Gordon Smith.
67:36 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Stewart by Murray Davidson.
66:15 The ball is swung over by Gary Irvine.
65:40 Andrew Driver crosses the ball, Chris Millar gets a block in.
65:14 The ball is swung over by Kevin Moon, save by Marian Kello.
64:39 The referee gives a free kick against Dawid Kucharski for handball. Free kick crossed left-footed by Daniel Grainger, save
by Marian Kello.
62:31 Steven Milne sends in a cross, Ismael Bouzid gets a block in.
60:52 The ball is crossed by Steven Milne, Effort from just outside the box by Daniel Grainger goes over the bar.
60:20 Christian Nade is ruled offside. Graeme Smith takes the free kick.
59:09 Outswinging corner taken by Filipe Morais, clearance made by Eggert Jonsson.
58:23 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Filipe Morais, clearance by Dawid Kucharski.
54:57 Dawid Kucharski delivers the ball, Header on goal by Christian Nade from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
52:10 Andrew Driver produces a cross, clearance by Graham Gartland.
51:08 Substitution Marius Cinikas on for Rocky Visconte.
50:40 The assist for the goal came from Daniel Grainger.
50:40 GOAL - Kenny Deuchar:St Johnstone 1 - 0 Hearts A goal is scored by Kenny Deuchar from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. St Johnstone 1-0 Hearts.
50:31 Daniel Grainger delivers the ball,
49:16 Steven Milne has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
48:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Murray Davidson by Andrew Driver. Cross/shot by Daniel Grainger, Marian Kello
makes a save.
47:40 The ball is swung over by Chris Millar, clearance by Dawid Kucharski.
46:00 Jason Thomson delivers the ball, Shot on goal by Gary Glen from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
45:01 Substitution (Hearts) makes a substitution, with Andrew Driver coming on for Marius Zaliukas.
Half Time
45:00+1:37 The ref blows to signal half-time.
45:00+1:16 Rocky Visconte produces a cross.
45:00+0:24 Corner from the left by-line taken by Filipe Morais, save by Marian Kello.
45:00+0:10 Centre by Filipe Morais, clearance made by Ismael Bouzid.
44:44 David Obua is caught offside. Graeme Smith takes the indirect free kick.
42:45 Gary Irvine crosses the ball, save made by Marian Kello.
41:20 Free kick awarded for a foul by Rocky Visconte on Murray Davidson. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Daniel Grainger,
save by Marian Kello.
40:48 Corner taken by Filipe Morais from the right by-line, clearance made by Marius Zaliukas.
40:34 Outswinging corner taken by Filipe Morais, Dawid Kucharski makes a clearance.
40:03 Daniel Grainger takes a shot. Dawid Kucharski gets a block in.
39:44 Kenny Deuchar takes a shot. Eggert Jonsson gets a block in.
37:38 The ball is crossed by Chris Millar, Steven Milne produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the crossbar.
36:33 The assistant referee flags for offside against Gary Glen. Graeme Smith takes the free kick.
35:18 Eggert Jonsson fouled by Steven Milne, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Rocky Visconte, Graham
Gartland manages to make a clearance.
34:44 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Filipe Morais from the right by-line, save by Marian Kello.
34:18 Cross/shot by Filipe Morais, blocked by Dawid Kucharski.
29:34 The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Millar. Free kick taken by Marius Zaliukas.
28:53 Jason Thomson produces a cross.
28:25 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Michael Stewart, Steven Milne manages to make a clearance.
28:16 Centre by Jason Thomson, blocked by Gary Irvine.
25:12 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Filipe Morais.
24:22 The referee blows for offside against Chris Millar. Marian Kello takes the free kick.
23:43 Daniel Grainger delivers the ball, save by Marian Kello.
23:13 Daniel Grainger produces a cross, save by Marian Kello.
22:57 The ball is sent over by Murray Davidson, clearance made by Jason Thomson.
21:01 Filipe Morais takes a shot. Save by Marian Kello.
19:31 The ball is sent over by Kevin Moon, Chris Millar takes a shot. Blocked by Marius Zaliukas.
18:31 Unfair challenge on Kenny Deuchar by Dawid Kucharski results in a free kick. Filipe Morais takes the direct free kick, The
ball is delivered by Murray Davidson, Eggert Jonsson makes a clearance.
18:11 The referee blows for offside against Christian Nade. Graeme Smith takes the free kick.
17:30 Centre by Filipe Morais, Ismael Bouzid makes a clearance.
15:26 Foul by Ismael Bouzid on Filipe Morais, free kick awarded. Filipe Morais delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed
from left wing, Eggert Jonsson manages to make a clearance. Ismael Bouzid fouled by Kenny Deuchar, the ref awards a free kick.
Free kick taken by Marian Kello.
12:47 Filipe Morais crosses the ball, Shot from deep inside the area by Steven Milne clears the bar.
12:14 Michael Stewart produces a cross.
11:31 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Michael Stewart, Steven Milne manages to make a clearance.
11:24 The ball is sent over by Rocky Visconte, Gary Irvine gets a block in.
9:09 The ball is delivered by Chris Millar, save by Marian Kello.
7:56 David Obua sends in a cross, clearance by Graham Gartland.
7:37 Dawid Kucharski produces a cross, clearance made by Graham Gartland.
6:02 A cross is delivered by Filipe Morais.
5:08 The ball is swung over by Steven Milne, Chris Millar takes a shot. Save by Marian Kello.
3:14 Filipe Morais sends in a cross, save made by Marian Kello.
Correction - 2:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by Murray Davidson on Michael Stewart. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ismael Bouzid from right
wing, clearance made by David MacKay.
2:24 Murray Davidson challenges Michael Stewart unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ismael Bouzid restarts play with the free
kick, Centre by David MacKay, clearance by David MacKay.
1:02 Christian Nade fouled by Chris Millar, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Stewart takes the direct free kick.
0:00 The referee gets the game started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport