A PRICE TO PAY
Doidge dismissal and Marciano injury big blows for Hibs
HIBERNIAN paid a high price for returning to winning ways at Easter Road — and will head to Ibrox on Saturday without at least one key player as a result.
Christian Doidge’s late red card in the victory over St Mirren, the striker picking up two bookings just minutes apart, means the big Welshman will miss Saturday’s trip to Govan.
And first-choice goalkeeper Ofir Marciano is a major doubt after limping off with a tight hamstring early in the second half.
Kevin Nisbet’s 12th goal of the season put the hosts ahead inside 20 minutes and, although Saints stayed in the game, the home side held on — and moved up to third in the Premiership table.
Hibs boss Jack Ross, who backed sub keeper Dillon Barnes to step into the breach if required at Ibrox, was disappointed with Doidge’s double yellow for a foul on Jon Obika and then a flailing arm that caught the face of a furious Ethan Erhahon.
‘The first one is deserved, no complaints,’ said Ross. ‘ The second one, there is no intent — I know there is no intent.
‘I can understand, potentially, why it’s been given but I would still argue the case.
‘But, of course, there’s no chance to appeal anyway.
‘He’s been great for me and he gets an enforced rest, which might be good for him because he’s put a lot into the last few weeks.
‘I would much rather have him but we’ve got to find a way to win at Ibrox. We need to adjust a little bit now.
‘At this stage of the season, you accept that you need to adjust your plans for injury or suspension.
‘We took a couple of games at the beginning of this month, bounce games against Rangers and Hamilton that people might have questioned the wisdom of, because we had such a busy schedule.
‘But we probably knew that we’d need those players, the likes of Drey Wright, Melker Hallberg, Dillon… all of those were involved. They’re going to be needed during a tough period.’
The goal this game needed came with 18 minutes on the clock. And the source could hardly be a surprise to anyone who has watched Hibs this season.
Nisbet’s finish, a dinked chip with the right foot after a quick bit of adjustment just inside the box, was sublime.
And it was worthy of the play that preceded the inch-perfect shot, Joe Newell having threaded the eye of the needle to find Martin Boyle on the right, the wide man then laying the ball off to Nisbet for the coup de grace.
Newell was involved in everything good Hibs produced in the first half. And his link-up play with Boyle, in particular, caused Saints no end of problems. The pair combined to present Ryan Porteous with a gift of a chance just before half-time, courtesy of a quick free-kick and a low cross drilled along the corridor of uncertainty betwixt keeper and defenders. But the centre-half couldn’t convert what should have been a tap-in, with an opponent’s boot diverting the ball behind for a corner.
Saints sub Ilkay Durmus missed with a free header from ten yards out just after the break, before Marciano limped off.
On-loan Queens Park Rangers keeper Barnes impressed with a couple of saves as St Mirren chased an equaliser, their efforts hampered by Brandon Mason seeing red for a second yellow card after 83 minutes — just moments before the numbers were evened up by the Doidge dismissal.
‘Ofir had a bit of tightness in his hamstring at half-time, so we knew we would have to potentially make that change,’ continued Ross.
‘We’ll see how he recovers over the next day or so.
‘I don’t think it’s anything too serious but we’ll not take any chances on Boxing Day, should it be the same.
‘I’ve been really pleased with Dillon since he came to the club. He played in some Betfred Cup games and did well.
‘He’s trained well, he’s popular within the group.
‘And I’ m really pleased for him tonight because he’s a young man with a young family in London.
‘So it’s not easy, at this time, for him to get back and forward and see them.
‘That in itself presents a challenge so the fact that he’s been as conscientious in his work, done so well tonight, is pleasing.
‘I have absolutely no fears about him playing on Boxing Day if required.’
After seeing their unbeaten 11-game unbeaten run come to an end, frustrated Saints boss Jim Goodwin said: ‘ The overriding feelings are frustration and disappointment because I didn’t think there was a great deal between the teams.
‘I thought the game lacked a bit of quality, especially in the final third.
‘The only bit of quality was young Nisbet’s finish, and even then I am disappointed because we came charging out of the area to leave Martin Boyle in acres of space.
‘He runs across the 18-yard line without a tackle being made and you see the quality from Nisbet.
‘Listen, that’s why they paid good money for him, that’s what he brings you.’
HIBERNIAN (4-4-2): Marciano 6 (Barnes 56); P McGinn 6, Porteous 6, Hanlon 6, Stevenson 6; Boyle 6, Hallberg 6 (Gogic 90), Newell 7, Magennis 6 (Wright 46); Doidge 5, Nisbet 7 (Gullan 80).
Subs not used: Gray, S McGinn, McGregor, Doig, Bradley. Booked: Stevenson, Doidge. Sent off: Doidge. ST MIRREN (3-5-2): Alnwick 6; McCarthy 6, Shaughnessy 6, Tait 6 (Durmus 46); Fraser 6, MacPherson 6 (McAllister 77), Erhahon 6, McGrath 6 (Dennis 69), Mason 5; Connolly 6 (Morias 69), Erwin 6 (Obika 67).
Subs not used: Lyness, Flynn, Finlayson, Foley. Booked: Mason. Sent off: Mason. Man of the match: Joe Newell. Referee: Steven Kirkland.