Premier League outfit St. Johnstone were too hot for a Loons' side playing a first competitive fixture since mid-December.

Forfar competed well enough but Saints were clinical in front of goal and had a healthy two-goal advantage by the interval.

In 23 minutes Kenny Deuchar rose to power home a Danny Grainger cross from the left then, two minutes from the interval, the visitors carved open the Loons defence once again.

This time the move was down the right, Deuchar cutting back for Liam Craig to slide home from just inside the box.

Forfar enjoyed their best spell just after the interval, Ross Campbell seeing a low cross scrambled away by Saints keeper Graeme Smith.

St. Johnstone made absolutely sure of their place in the fifth round with a third in 58 minutes, Liam Craig fastening on to a neat Peter MacDonald through ball to clip past the keeper.

Forfar now have 20 league games ahead of them in the race for a promotion play-off spot, the first of them at Albion Rovers this Saturday.

Loons' boss Dick Campbell is keen to strengthen his squad for the hectic spell ahead - and has said he will have new faces available for selection by the weekend.

However, he was keeping his cards close to his chest as to who he has in mind.