St Johnstone boss John Connolly was obviously relieved as he watched his side gain all three points against his former club Queen of the South.
The goal that sealed the game came just on the hour as Chris Hay first-timed a defensive clearance into the net from 25 yards.
And Connolly said: "He had several other chances and that was the most difficult.
"But it gave us the point in a fixture I knew would be a particularly hard one." It was Connolly's first visit to Palmerston since he left to take over Saints at the end of last season.
And he obviously fired up his side to get off to a start as they controlled the play in the opening stages.
They should have broken the deadlock when keeper Colin Scott could only palm out a shot from Jordan Tait, but Peter MacDonald headed over from almost on the goal-line.
They had another gilt-edged chance when Lee Hardy cut in from the left and set up MacDonald but the striker mis-hit the ball well wide.
But Queens were not out of it altogether and Allan McGregor had to turn away shots from Eric Paton and David McNiven.
The game moved up a gear after the break with Hay at one end and David Bagan at the other, both coming close with snap shots.
But then keeper Scott made a tremendous save when he dived on to a low shot from Hay at point-blank range and seconds later again denied the striker as he turned his shot to safety.
But the keeper had no chance with the goal that won the points in 60 minutes when Hay cracked his first time shot into the corner of the net.
Queens responded as they put Saints defence under pressure during the latter stages but could just not find a way through.