Clinical Craig keeps up cup momentum
LIAM CRAIG history week is extended. Seven days after winning the first major trophy of his career, another proud entry for the popular veteran’s record books.
Craig’s 60th goal for the club secured his in-form team victory and a shot at the top six in a fortnight.
He was seen taking a moment to himself on the Hampden pitch alone last Sunday to digest the enormity of the achievement, after dressing-room emotions got the better of him.
Back on more familiar territory, the 34-year-old played his third game in seven days with total focus, determination and to great effect as if it was his first of the season.
The winner was his first goal since the opening day, sufficient to deal a major blow to his former Falkirk team-mate Jack Ross.
This marked another stumble in Hibernian’s attempts to kill off toiling Aberdeen in what can no longer be called a ‘race’ for third place.
This is turning into quite the slog and it was hard work in that second half trying to crank open a glimpse at Zander Clark’s goal.
That’s because, having taken time to find their identity under Callum Davidson, there may not be a team in the division finishing this season as strongly as St Johnstone.
Their job is far from done at collecting the Betfred Cup. Saints will host Ross County a week on Saturday with hopes of overtaking sixth-placed St Mirren well and truly alive.
Dundee United can make it a three-way scrap by beating Celtic.
In the meantime, no game next weekend might just allow the Saints players a breather.
They’ve picked up four important Premiership points since beating Livingston in last Sunday’s final.
After scoring, Craig went on to play a key role in shutting down avenues Hibs investigated as potential routes back into the game.
Davidson’s diligent and disciplined central defenders were brilliant, too, in stifling and blocking what the visiting team threw at them. All without injured Hampden hero Shaun Rooney.
‘As a former defender who liked a tackle, that was a real pleasing performance,’ noted Davidson.
‘Football-wise, it’s probably the worst we’ve played all season. But character-wise, it’s probably the biggest.
‘They knew they had to go and get three points to give ourselves a chance of top six.
‘We’ve given ourselves an opportunity and something to fight for in our last game before the split.
‘That was the message to them. And you could see with the way the players defended and put their bodies on the line, they all knew that. Everyone put a real shift in.
‘That showed the spirit and the attitude. Certain players could have been disappointed they weren’t playing but came on and gave the team new energy levels.
‘A lot of players went through the pain barrier to get the points. They can be really proud of their week.’
Only Celtic and Rangers, both by one-goal margins, have now beaten Saints on a 14match sequence stretching back to December 30. The Perth side handed Hibs their tough task from the 16th minute. Josh Doig tried to hook Callum Booth’s deep cross upfield from his own penalty area, only for the attempt to drop kindly for Craig (below left).
He was afforded time and space to collect, adjust and take deadly aim, steering a left-foot shot into the right-hand corner of Ofir Marciano’s net from 22 yards.
Hibs don’t often bring out the best in Craig. He was relegated with them in 2014, missing out on St Johnstone’s Scottish Cup win.
Then he left Easter Road the year before Hibs ended their cup jinx.
Craig was sent off in the 94th minute of the corresponding fixture in August after Hibs nicked a late penalty and Saints were denied a goal by a dubious offside call.
This time, it was Hibs manager Ross airing the complaints and clashing with officials.
He was booked late in the game and remonstrated on the pitch with referee David Dickinson at full-time.
Hibs had grown into the game late in the first period.
Jamie McCart’s swipe at a Doig delivery skimmed the crossbar and Joe Newell’s shot wide was a disappointing follow-up.
Hibs picked up from where they left off after the break but Jackson Irvine and Paul Hanlon failed to take advantage of free headers.
Kevin Nisbet, on his first start since a deadline-day move to Birmingham was blocked by the club, needed help up top.
Christian Doidge was introduced in the 66th minute and the Welshman forced a superb save from Clark with a stinging drive.
But it was defender Doig who went closest. He cut inside two Saints defenders and clipped the outside of the near post with a drive from 20 yards.
ST JOHNSTONE: (3-1-4-2): Clark; Kerr, Gordon, McCart; Craig; O’Halloran, McCann, Wotherspoon (Tanser 83), Booth; Kane (May 72), Melamed (Conway 57).
Subs (not used): Parish, Brown, Middleton, Ferguson, Gilmour, Denham. Booked: Wotherspoon. HIBERNIAN: (4-4-2): Marciano; McGinn, Porteous, Hanlon, Doig; Gogic, Irvine (Murphy 73), Cadden (Doidge 54), Newell (Hallberg 79); Boyle, Nisbet.
Subs (not used): Macey, Gray, Wright, Stevenson, Allan, McGregor. Booked: Newell, Porteous.
Referee: David Dickinson.