Boyle injury takes shine off as Johnson prays for his quick recovery
Australia internationalist’s World Cup threatened by latest set-back
3 St Mirren 0
THE sight of Martin Boyle hobbling off with what looked like a knee complaint just after the break threatened to take the shine off this comfortable victory for Hibernian over St Mirren.
With the World Cup just under three weeks away and bearing in mind just how important he is to the Leith side, there were concerns all round.
Hibs manager Lee Johnson even vowed to light a candle for the Australian international, although he is hoping the injury is not as serious as first feared.
Boyle had given the hosts the lead in first half injury-time with a penalty that came about following a VAR call.
Myko Kukharevych and Ewen Henderson also scored in a one-sided second period as Hibs climbed back up to third in the Premiership.
“I’m praying it’s not too bad,” said Johnson when asked to shed light on the severity of Boyle’s injury, sustained in what looked like an accidental collision with team-mate Nohan Kenneh. “I was very worried it was his knee but it’s not, it’s down the side, sort of the top of the shin. And we’re hoping the pain was contact to the nerve, because it went numb.
“That was what ended in him coming off but I’m lighting a candle for him tonight hoping he’s alright.
“It’s going to be difficult psychologically for him but I have to say his professionalism has been outstanding, he has never shirked anything in training or games. That’s why he deserves to go to the World Cup, for that consistency.”
Johnson was naturally delighted with the output from his team against the Buddies as they ended a three-game losing sequence.
“We’ve maintained belief in what we were doing,” he added.
“There were some excellent performances on the pitch, five or six really outstanding ones.
“You do feel relief after such an intense week.”
Hibs had the ball in the net after seven minutes when Kukharevych converted Marijan Cabraja’s pass but VAR ruled that the latter was offside when he latched onto Joe Newell’s sublime pass.
There was no shortage of entertainment during the early stages as the match swung
from end to end. Newell again was involved with a deft pass for Ryan Porteous but the Hibs defender struck a volley just wide.
At the other end Hibs goalkeeper David Marshall got down well to Jonah Ayunga’s low shot before Saints shotstopper Trevor Carson repelled a Boyle volley from point blank range.
After Marshall then kept out Curtain Main there was a lull in attacking activity at both ends of the pitch.
That was until first half injury time when VAR this time favoured Hibs. Referee
Don Robertson was advised to review handball claims involving Richard Tait when the Saints defender got in the way of Chris Cadden’s shot.
The official pointed to the spot and Boyle nonchalantly sent Carson the wrong way.
Boyle’s afternoon, however, came to an untimely end in the 54th minute. After already needing treatment minutes earlier, the winger reluctantly trudged off.
Hibs sorely missed Boyle during his seven months in Saudi Arabia at the turn of the year but they continued to look threatening in his absence - so much so that the hosts added a further two goals.
Kukharevych finally celebrated in the 63rd minute. After demonstrating his upper body strength to shake off Alex Gogic in the box, the Ukrainian curled a composed left-foot shot beyond the reach of Carson.
Hibs added gloss to the scoreline four minutes later. Substitute Elias Melkersen’s shot was deflected into Henderson’s path and the attacking midfielder found the top corner from just inside the box.
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson had no complaints over the VAR intervention that led to the opening goal, nor the final result.
He said: “We didn’t play like ourselves today and we deserved nothing out of the game. We have to hold our hands up.
“The goal at half-time was a set back but it was a penalty from what I seen back given the modern rules. It kills us a little bit.
“We seem to give a penalty away in every away game. “Ultimately Hibs deserved to win but we are much better than what we showed today and I am confident of that.”