Goodwin’s kicking himself for letting Saints go gung-ho
HIBS........................... ST MIRREN...............
Jim Goodwin was delighted with Saints’ attacking instinct – but admits they went gung-ho to kill off Hibswhen they should have shut up shop.
Conor McCarthy and Tony Andreu had Saints two goals to the good inside the opening 20 minutes and looked dangerous every time they attacked a vulnerable home defence.
Hibs woke up, however, and were able to exploit the gaps Saints were leaving as they continued to press high in search of a third goal.
Scott Allan pulled a goal back before Chris Doidge netted his 15th of the season with a fantastic header back across goal from a Stephane Omeonga cross.
Goodwin said : “I thought we started the game really well. We came here to try and press Hibs and we did that.
“We forced them into mis ta kes and had numerous attacks in the first 20 minutes.
“I was delighted to get a goal in front, never mind finding ourselves two up.
“They were two really well-worked goals.
“At that moment we carried on doing what were doing – but in hindsight I’m kicking myself a bit that maybe we should have come off the game for five minutes after going two in front to let it settle down again.
“We didn’t. We went and pressed high again, allowed Scott Allan space and that’s what leads to the first goal.”
Hibs made three changes from midweek, although none of the deadline day trio of Paul McGinn, Greg Docherty and Marc McNulty made the starting XI. David Gray came in for Tom James at right-back while Omeonga returned in the middle of the park in place of Steven Whittaker.
Darren McGregor replaced Adam Jackson in defence.
Saints were unchanged from the side that drew 0- 0 with Aberdeen in Paisley.
New arrivals Alex Jakubiak and Lee Hodson were amongst the substitutes.
It was the simple approach that brought the Buddies the opening goal in 15 minutes. Cameron McPherson’s Ross Pilcher corner found McCarthy and the centre-back was free to head past Ofir Marciano.
Goodwin’s men then quickly doubled their advantage.
Ilkay Durmus found space on the left and pulled the ball back for Andreu who sent a first-time finish across Marciano into the far corner.
Hibs then produced a mirror-image goal to give themselves a much needed foothold in the match.
Martin Boyle was instrumental in yet another of the Hibees’ goals, scampering down the right and pulling back for Allan who swept the bal l beyond the helpless Václav Hladky.
Durmus was unlucky to see a dipping effort go just over the bar as Hibs failed to deal with just about any of thei r opponents attacks.
Gray was getting a real runaround from the Turk.
Hibs managed to salvage the situation just three minutes before half-time when the red hot Doidge sent a great header back across goal into the top corner after Omeonga had stood up a cross from the left.
Hladky had to react quickly after the break to deny McGinn a debut goal against his former club, tipping his header wide of the post.
Hibs boss Jack Ross said: “We keep trying to freshen it a little bit to make sure there is some energy to our game but we were a bit reactive.
“In fairness to the players they showed great character to come back we were better, without being brilliant, in the second half.”
Greg Docherty made a solid debut for the hosts after his loan move from Rangers and admits he’s been dying to get the buzz of playing back.
He said: “I heard a few weeks before deadline day that something could happen. Once I spoke to Hibs I was itching to get it done.”
“I woke up with that buzz again and it was nice to get on the pitch.”