Shaughnessy leaves it late to end Hibs’ proud run
BOGDAN 8 AMBROSE 6 WHITTAKER 5 MALLAN 6 BOYLE 7 BARTLEY 6 4-5-1
For any spirit of kindness and goodwill after the week poor Lennon has endured only stretched as far as the touchline, as Saints set about ending the proud home record of his Hibs side.
Not since Rangers’ 2-1 win on December 13th last year had Hibs lost a home league game.
But yesterday the defences were torn down by a St Johnstone team performance that was brilliant.
Joe Shaughnessy’s 90thminute header earned the win Wright’s men thoroughly deserved.
But they could have had the points wrapped up long before, having hit the bar and also seen a penalty superbly saved by Hibs keeper Adam Bogdan.
No wonder Wright was so proud of his players, who had copped flack after heavy losses to both Rangers and Celtic book-ended a run of four defeats on the bounce in September.
Perth gaffer Wright said: “Maybe some nice things will be written and said about us now because I think we proved how good a side we are in this match.
“We had a run of four games but I was never panicking. I know plenty of others were - some so-called experts wanted to put the boot in.
“The performance was very satisfying. It was pretty much the perfect away performance.”
Lennon was left in no doubt of the special place he holds in the hearts of the Hibs support by their thunderous chant of “there’s only one Neil Lennon” before kick-off.
But Saints quickly set about silencing them.
Organised and resolute at the back, they carried a threat up front too, with Tristan Nydam smacking the bar from 25 yards.
In reply Stevie Mallan’s shot was deflected just over.
Hibs upped their game after the break and Martin Boyle twice forced Saints keeper Zander Clark into top saves.
Sub Danny Swanson should have marked his Easter Road return with a goal.
Brought down in the box by Marvin Bartley, the former Hibee saw his well-struck 66th-minute penalty superbly saved by Bogdan.
But Saints kept going and in the dying seconds Shaughnessy gave Bogdan no chance with a powerful header from David Wotherspoon’s free-kick.