Mcginn at the double as Hibs dig deep to earn draw against Saints
HIBERNIAN 2 Mcginn 36, 82
ST JOHNSTONE 2
Mccann 35, Wotherspoon 76
Hibs manager Jack Ross chose to stay loyal to the players who had walked off the park on Saturday feeling aggrieved not to have taken all three points against Celtic for last night’s clash with St Johnstone.
It meant sticking with the 4-14-1 formation despite Christian Do id ge’ sr et urn to fitness following a minor ankle sprain and, while that system served them well against Celtic, it was tested by an industrious Saints side who preferred to squeeze a lacklustre- looking Hibshighu pt hep itch, earning a 2-2 draw.
That forced the Hibs defence to launch clearances up field rather than initiate a cohe - sive and composed attack but they did find a way through in the 36th minute when Paul McGinnw as rewarded for a determined drive for ward from his right-back berth and, benefiting from a neat Kevin Nisb et assist, he completed his run with an assured finish, passing the ball low into the net.
For a guy who has averaged a goal a season throughout his career, it was a finish full of panache. And there was more to come.
It was the necessary response from the Easter Road side who had gone a goal behind a minute earlier but knew they needed at least a point to leapfrog Aberdeen and move back into third place.
Paul Hanl on had already
gone off injured and the breakthrough had come when a Scott T ans er delivery into the area was not dealt with by Ryan Por teous or Darren Mcgregor and Saints striker Stevie May showed the desire to stick a boot out and prod the ball on for Ali Mccann to finish.
Hibshadsp ells in control but, like their guests, they struggled to really test the keeper.
It was only a matter of time
before Doidge would enter the fray and he did, with Ross sacrificing defensive cover Alex Gogicint he middle of the park. It gave Hibs a more offensive look and they responded by applying pressure.
However, again, it was the Perth side who edged ahead. This time it was former Hibs player David Wothersp o on who got the 76th minute goal.
McGinn,t hough refused to be beaten and, with 82 minutes gone, he got him
self forward and added to hist ally, to become the evening’s unlikely goal hero and elevate Hibs into third on goal difference.
Hibernian: Marciano, Paul Mcginn, Porteous, Hanlon (Mcgregor 21), Mackie, Boyle, Mallan, Gogic (Doidge 56), Newell, Murphy, Nisbet (Gullan 83). Subs Not Used: Gray, Wright, Hallberg, Stephen Mcginn, Doig, Barnes.
St Johnstone: Clark, Rooney,gordon, Mccart, Mcnamara, Craig, Mccann, Tanser, Melamed (Wotherspoon 61), O'halloran, May (Kane 87). Subs Not Used: Parish, hen dry, booth, ferguson.
Referee: Kevin Clancy.