Kane late show KO’s Hibs bid to land third
ST JOHNSTONE battled back to earn a point against ten-man Hibs on an eventful night at McDiarmid Park — denying the Easter Road men a win that would have taken them ahead of Aberdeen into third place in the Scottish Premiership.
An Efe Ambrose goal inside the opening two minutes had put Neil Lennon’s men firmly on their way to a sixth win in eight games.
But a moment of madness from goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, racing out of his box to handle the ball with less than 14 minutes on the clock, meant Lennon — watching from the stand as he begins a three-game touchline suspension — had to endure agonies as the visitors dug in.
For long enough, they looked to be holding on for a famous victory.
Their resistance was finally cracked with just seven minutes left, Chris Kane netting to prompt delight among the home fans.
But heroics from stand-in keeper Cammy Bell made sure they left with at least the draw, as he pounced when Scott Tanser’s injury-time free-kick crashed off the bar to the feet of Steven MacLean.
Hibs had taken the lead after just one minute and 24 seconds, courtesy of some dazzling wing play from Scott Allan, a superb headed finish from Ambrose — and less than impressive defending from the home side.
Allan easily skipped past Chris Millar with a step over and sprint, then delivered a chipped cross that found Ambrose — still up from a corner — easily out-leaping home skipper Joe Shaughnessy to head the ball past Alan Mannus.
While the former Celtic defender was running towards the Hibs fans and doing his trademark back-flip celebration after his third goal of the season, few of the travelling supporters would have missed Allan’s part in the opener.
In his fourth appearance back with the Easter Road side, he’d just contributed a second assist to go with the one goal to date. File this one under a loan deal that is definitely working out.
As for whether Marciano has ever quite convinced as a first-choice goalkeeper, well, let’s just say he didn’t do himself any favours with the red card after just 13 minutes.
Quite what he was doing coming way out of the box to chase Millar’s ball is a mystery.
What is clear is that he handled Kane’s attempt to lift the ball beyond him, earning a correct dismissal from referee John Beaton after consultation with assistant Paul O’Neill.
On came Bell for a Hibs debut in crisis circumstances. Off went Jamie Maclaren to compensate for the adjustment.
Although St Johnstone rallied immediately after the red, Hibs — with pace in all the right areas — didn’t exactly crumble.
Florian Kamberi was only inches away from connecting with a low Allan shot across goal, while Paul Hanlon couldn’t keep his header from John McGinn’s cross down.
With three minutes until half-time, Saints finally stirred themselves into life, Tanser sending in a beautiful cross met on the half volley by Shaughnessy from point-blank range. However, Bell was equal to his effort, pulling off a spectacular save.
The stand-in goalie then threw himself at the feet of Kane to make an equally important stop moments later, picking up a leg knock that needed treatment — and leaving Hibs fans wondering who would step in for the sub, if he couldn’t recover.
Luckly for the visiting fans, Bell was eventually back on his feet.
Saints looked bright straight after the break, with George Williams on for Millar.
Williams waiting no time in getting into the thick of the action, stinging the palms of Bell with a 20-yarder.
Hibs were still a threat, though, with Kamberi pulling a shot wide of the near post after 55 minutes.
Inevitably, Saints were going to have plenty of the ball. And a few opportunities to create chances. Few were taken, however.
Had referee Beaton been in a more strict mood, meanwhile, he might well have evened up the sides with a red card for Blair Alston just before the hour mark, the midfielder seeing only yellow for a cynical foul on McGinn.
As the game dragged on, every Saints fan in the ground was wondering the same thing. Would their team find a way through?
Sure, Hibs were tiring. Not closing down quite so quickly in midfield. It didn’t seem to make much of a difference. Crosses went into the box. But they were struggling to find a finish.
Until, that is, seven minutes from time. When Kane reacted quickest to Denny Johnstone’s clever back-heel and shot smartly beyond Bell.
It was a goal in start contrast with much of the huffing and puffing that had gone before. A lovely finish to a very neat move.
There was still time for more drama, with Bell again at the heart of the action — doing just enough to secure the draw.