Wright’s joy and relief as Saints end goal famine
St Johnstone ended their long goalless drought before earning their first victory in seven games in a sensational finale.
Murray Davidson gave the Saints the lead with their first goal in 620 minutes of league football.
And the Premiership strugglers followed that up with a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Steven MacLean for a first victory in seven games.
Hibs had levelled in injury time through an Anthony Stokes penalty, but Tommy Wright’s men went up the park moments later to end the home side’s creditable run of four straight victories.
Wright – favourite to succeed Michael O’Neill as Northern Ireland manager should the former Dundee United, Newcastle United, Wigan Athletic and Glentoran midfielder take up the Scotland post – said: “I feel relief and joy. “I’m very proud of my players. “Some people might have written us off after the run we’ve been on but I never doubted them.
“We were good defensively, we counter-attacked well and we deserved the win. “We created the more clear-cut chances.” Wright admitted he was shocked by the spot-kick award which threatened to spoil his side’s afternoon.
He added: “I thought the penalty decision was harsh and the distance was too close to be penalised for handball. “Hopefully this result will kick us on again.” Both sides provided plenty endeavour in the first half but there was a general lack of quality on show.
Hibs controlled most of the play, with John McGinn driving them on as he tried to create chances.
One landed beautifully in the path of Stokes in the 29th minute and he looked certain to score from 16 yards out. However, he failed to hit the target and his effort was way over the crossbar.
For the visitors, they were more than satisfied to soak up the pressure and hit on their opponents on break, using the pace of Michael O’Halloran and the movement of Steve MacLean to get their team up the pitch into dangerous positions.
They almost broke their scoring duck in the 34th minute but Liam Craig was denied by Ofir Marciano when the keeper finger-tipped his powerful shot on to the crossbar. It was a fine stop.
On a cold afternoon in Leith, the fans were warmed up after the interval as both sides got into the penalty box more often.
Steven Anderson’s header was cleared off the line by McGinn.
Israel international Marciano blocked O’Halloran’s shot.
At the other end, Zander Clark stopped a Simon Murray effort.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 74th minute through Davidson.
Liam Craig’s knockdown at the back post from a cross was perfect for the Saints midfielder and he made no mistake from five yards out.
The travelling supporters celebrated exuberantly given their long wait for a goal.
Naturally, the home team increased their intensity levels in the final 15 minutes as they chased an equaliser.
Scotland international McGinn went close from 30 yards.
Hibs gaffer Neil Lennon made changes to add more firepower in search of an equalising goal in front of more than 16,000 anxious home fans.
But the Saints survived the onslaught in a calm and assured manner until the final seconds when referee Craig Thomson penalised Joe Shaughnessy for a handball when he blocked a Boyle shot. It seemed harsh on Wright’s side. But that mattered not a jot to Stokes and he showed composure to slot the spot-kick home with his right foot beyond the reach of Zander Clark.
However, the drama continued and Ofir Marciano failed to hold a routine shot from Craig. The ball trickled out and there was MacLean to slam it home from two yards.
Easter Road gaffer Lennon said: “There was a flatness about us today.
“We should have seen the game out and got the draw. The defeat is self-inflicted but I’m not going to be overly critical of the players.”