Tanser gets closer to hitting the target Defender’s strike inches from securing the three points
St Johnstone ......... 1 Hibernian ............. 1 chance of him getting sent off.”
Saints were optimistic heading into this Premiership tussle after last week’s spectacular derby win against Dundee.
But delight soon turned to dejection when Ambrose rose tallest in the box, above Joe Shaughnessy, to powerfully nod beyond Alan Mannus.
There was an early lifeline for Saints as Marciano handled outside of his box when attempting to block a Kane effort.
The Israeli stopper rightly saw red and Cammy Bell was drafted in at the expense of forward Jamie MacLaren.
Murray Davidson headed a corner over from six yards after half an hour as Saints searched for a way back into the game.
Hibs stopper Bell was soon called into Tanser smashed the wood work with a late freekick action for what would be a busy night between the posts.
Five minutes before half time, a brilliant Tanser cross was met by Shaughnessy, but he was impressively denied.
And Bell was again in inspired form moments before the interval to deny Kane - who could have hit first time from close range.
George Williams replaced Chris Millar at the break and after 40 seconds the Welsh international played in Kane who lashed off the outside of the post from the edge of the box.
The game became heated and whistler John Beaton needed to be on red alert as challenges started to fly in.
Blair Alston’s late professional foul
Kane guided home the leveller in the 84th minute on John McGinn caused a stir, similarly Marvin Bartley’s collision with Perth midfielder Liam Craig.
Saints came close to a late leveller when Williams found himself in possession in the box but he blasted over from close range.
But the equaliser did come, through the in-form Kane, volleying home a Denny Johnstone flick from the edge of the area with seven minutes to go.
Williams missed the opportunity to wrap up the points by blazing over from 16 yards.
But the comeback looked complete in injury time when Tanser’s free kick looped over the wall.
The ex-Port Vale man was given the opportunity to strike at goal from 25 yards after McGinn cynically brought down substitute David Wotherspoon.
Having hit the post from a similar area the week before, the left back saw Bell’s fingertips divert the shot onto the crossbar, forcing the clubs to share the spoils.
“In the second half, we showed what we can do. If we’d played like that in the first half, we’d have had all three points,” Tanser added.
“It’s an uphill struggle after going down in the first five or ten minutes, but it’s a great group of lads who stick together.
“At half-time we knew we needed to get something - and that’s what we got.”