JACK’S BACK TO HAUNT US
PREMIERSHIP LAST NIGHT’S BIG GAME ST MIRREN ....... 1 HIBS ....... 2
“But unfortunately we’ve nothing to show for it.
“I was more frustrated on Saturday even though we won the game because of the number of opportunities we gifted Ross County.
“Tonight my goalkeeper has not have a save to make yet he’s had to pick the ball out of the back of the net twice.” A winning start for Ross at home to Motherwell had sent Hibs into the top six in the table for the first time since the opening day.
They are now four points clear of the bottom half as an unchanged 11 had Saints soaking up early pressure as the rain teemed down.
Kyle Magennis failed to match Calum Waters’ cracking cross with his 12yard header in 24 minutes while Paul Hanlon took the ball off Ryan Flynn’s boot as he prepared to bury it.
Saints’ wastefulness was punished 28 minutes in as Doidge met Jason Naismith’s cross to loop a header over Vaclav Hladky with help from a Sean McLoughlin deflection.
A fifth goal in three games, his drought has well and truly ended. Hibs just about merited a half-time lead but a flashpoint on their return threatened to wipe it out.
Keeper Chris Maxwell suffered a rush of blood to the head by racing from his box to upend Magennis outside the area and was relieved to see a yellow card.
That brought a furious response from the Buddies support and only served to energise their side.
Hibs were starting to creak as Jon Obika had a shot deflected wide by Ryan Porteous. Danny Mullen climbed off the bench to crack a volley over the top in the 70th minute as Saints looked no nearer to the leveller their dominance deserved.
Mullen then curled a brilliant shot against a post before hope of a salvage job ended with a second goal.
Gary MacKenzie upended Martin Boyle as Mallan slammed the spot-kick high past Hladky. Injury-time drama followed thanks to Junior Morais’ close-range strike but it was too late to stop a fourth defeat in five.
GORDON PARKS AT THE SIMPLE DIGITAL ARENA