Buddies fail to halt barrage from Hibs
MIRREN MATCHES AS THEY WERE REPORTED AT THE TIME
Hibernian ..........3 St Mirren............1
St Mirren were swept aside on Saturday as a rampant Hibs stamped their authority all over the Buddies.
Saints arrived in the capital on the back of two wins in their last three, but were made to pay by a team destined for the very top.
The midfield trio of John McGinn, Liam Henderson and Fraser Fyvie were a joy to behold throughout the 90 minutes, and if it wasn’t for a moment of brilliance from Stevie Mallan then the hosts could have been out of sight before a late strike put the tie beyond
doubt. Manager Alex Rae handed new signing Rocco Quinn his start since joining the club from Ross County a week ago.
Calum Gallagher also came in for Saints with Paul McMullan and the injured Stuart Carswell dropping out for the trip to Easter Road.
The Buddies started the tie in positive fashion, but it was to prove to be a difficult opening 45 minutes for the Paisley side kitted out in red.
Mallan’s second minute free-kick had the visiting support on their feet but his curling strike landed on the roof of the net.
However, if it was a battle of the set pieces then Hibernian definitely had the upper hand.
Liam Henderson won the hosts a free-kick on the edge of the Saints box after been sent crashing to the turf by Andy Webster.
And up stepped the on-loan Celtic man to fire a sensational effort into the top right hand corner of Jamie Langfield’s goal to hand the home side the lead.
From there on in, Hibernian dominated the midfield.
Lawrence Shankland spurned a half-chance in a rare St Mirren attack, but the striker couldn’t find the target despite Sean Kelly’s teasing ball.
Cummings should have doubled the advantage at the other end in 37 minutes, with Lewis Stevenson’s sensational ball catching out the St Mirren defence.
The striker went for goal first time, but Langfield’s trailing leg prevented Hibs from doubling their tally.
But the hosts’ dominance was eventually rewarded, this time through former St Mirren man McGinn.
Cummings picked up the ball on the edge of the box before playing the former
Paisley man through on goal. McGinn took one touch past his marker before slotting beyond Langfield and into the far corner on the stroke of half-time.
However, the drama didn’t stop there, with St Mirren clawing themselves back into the match in first- half stoppage time.
And it would be through another trademark Mallan free- kick from 25 yards which saw Saints go in at the half just 2-1 down.
Hibernian started the second-half as they meant to go one – with a barrage on the St Mirren box.
Paul Hanlon’s header was cleared off the line in desperate fashion, before McGinn’s goalbound effort was diverted over the crossbar by Sean Kelly.
The biggest cheer of the evening however, was reserved the return of Hibs striker Anthony Stokes, who penned a loan deal from Celtic earlier in the week. His entry to the field was joined by Saints’
Jordan Stewart, who replaced Cameron Howieson on the left wing.
Stokes then came close to opening his Hibs account for second spell at Easter Road. However his scuffed effort was cleared of danger with just over 10 minutes left on the clock.
But he wasn’t to be denied, and any hopes of St Mirren snatching a point were dashed when Stokes converted James Keating’s teasing cross with just a minute left on the clock.