Still Scott it
Allan shows Hibs what they’d have missed if deal was done
Hibs tried to offload Scott Allan to St Mirren on deadline day.
Yesterday he reminded gaffer Jack Ross exactly why he’s worth keeping.
The midfielder was offered with Drey Wright as a makeweight in the club’s failed bid for Buddies ace Jamie McGrath.
The move collapsed and both players returned to Easter Road – and Allan showed what he’s capable of after coming off the bench with his side a goal down.
His stunning pass set up Paul McGinn’s volley to cancel out Eamonn Brophy’s opener before Martin Boyle’s penalty put Hibs in front.
Joe Shaughnessy’s late leveller earned Saints a deserved point but Allan’s contribution was so pleasing on the eye.
Af terwards, Ross praised the playmaker and challenged him to become a regular starter again.
He said: “With Scott’s pass for the goal, it’s about both the vision and execution and that is never in doubt with him. He knows that’s the special thing he has but you have to produce it and he did today.
“My opinion of Scott hasn’t changed. He wasn’t someone we were pushing to get out the door. There was a potential opportunity for him and he wants to play.
“It’s difficult to build a run of games for him but that sharpness of thought’s there and he showed he’s still an asset.”
The first half was devoid of goalmouth incidents or gilt- edged chances. Hibs had most of the possession and territory but it was all too slow and laboured.
St Mirren were comfortable, without looking like a major threat until they broke the deadlock just before the break.
Connor Ronan’s clever turn created space to ping a pass to Brophy on the left.
The striker was one on one with Ryan Porteous and got half a yard as he cut inside to drill a low shot that beat Matt Macey at his near post. Allan immediately added a bit of guile when he came on at half-time and when he won a corner, Hibs should have been level.
Porteous’ super header beat Jak Alnwick only for Boyle to inexplicably tap it in from an offside position.
They did get level thanks to a bit of genius from Allan. His pass to pick out McGinn was sublime and magnificently finished by the full-back.
Saints needlessly handed them a second when Matt Millar, already warned about grappling in the box by ref Kevin Clancy, got a hold of Porteous and when he went down, Clancy pointed to the spot and booked Millar. Boyle redeemed himself by thrashing home the penalty.
In the space of four minutes, the match had been turned on its head.
But the Buddies kept at it and with two minutes left skipper Shaughnessy, who had earlier hit the bar with a volley, buried a back-post header from Scott Tanser’s cross.