ALLAN STILL KEY
Forgotten midfielder brings Hibs to life but Saints rescue a point
CLUMSILY shown the door by Hibs on deadline day only to be denied safe harbour at St Mirren, Scott Allan was always likely to feature in the narrative of this game.
Yet even as Jack Ross threw the midfielder on at half-time to try and enliven a tepid performance, he could scarcely have reckoned with the transformation Allan brought to bear on proceedings.
The pass which carved out Hibs’ equalising goal for Paul McGinn was a triumph of technique and vision that no-one else in the stadium would have seen far less been able to pull off.
Quite possibly in need of a little love, the 29-year-old turned to Easter Road’s main stand and, arms aloft, basked in the adulation.
The day would end with Saints captain Joe Shaughnessy claiming a deserved point for St Mirren but the Hibs manager could console himself with the fact his team had nudged ahead of Rangers on goal difference at the top of the table.
And he was happy to explain why Allan — earmarked as makeweight in a failed transfer bid for Saints Jamie McGrath — still has a key role at Hibs.
‘In terms of vision and execution, that’s never in doubt,’ said Ross. ‘That’s the special thing that Scott has. He knows it and so do we.
‘My opinion of him 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, understandably.
‘Middle to front, we have been quite good but he had a chance to affect the game today and he did it. It’s great for him and also for me to have that potential quandary moving forward.’
In addition to the awkwardness around the Allan/McGrath situation, Hibs started with three ex-Saints in their team.
With so much familiarity between the respective groups of players, it was maybe no surprise to see them cancel each other out across a game that transitioned from a dire first half to a quite entertaining second.
Early on Martin Boyle and Kyle Magennis had a couple of decent efforts for Hibs, but nothing that caused too much concern to Jak Alnwick.
At the other end, Eamonn Brophy had adopted a shoot-on-sight policy that was starting to make him look wasteful until he worked his first real opportunity to perfection.
Connor Ronan became the latest Irish addition to Jim Goodwin’s stable when he joined on loan from Wolves on deadline day and he pulled off a raking pass to set Brophy off on and running.
Jockeyed inside by Ryan Porteous, Brophy appeared to be waiting for McGrath to make up the ground in support before dispatching a low shot inside the near post.
Such was the ferocity of the finish that even a strong hand from Matt Macey was insufficient to keep the shot out.
Ross took corrective action at half-time by withdrawing Chris Cadden in favour of Allan.
If health issues have slowed the midfielder down over the past year or two, sometimes speed is no substitute for skill.
Even before the equaliser, Allan’s craft was in evidence. Having slalomed to the byline via a neat exchange with Joe Newell, Allan stood up a cross that was headed out for a corner from under the bar.
Magennis swung the ball over, Porteous headed goalwards and Boyle stuck out a toe to ensure it crossed the line.
Trouble was the Australian international was offside and might have been better leaving the header to its own fate.
Yet Allan’s best moment was only a few moments away. Having seen shots from Magennis and Newell blocked, most in the stadium would have been imploring Allan to make it third-time lucky as he stepped on to the rebound.
Instead, he opted for a floated pass with the inside of his foot.
The volley is normally regarded as one of the trickiest skills to pull off. Not when the delivery is this inviting. Make a good connection and McGinn was bound to score against his old club.
Some naive defending from a corner led to the visitors falling behind. Referee Kevin Clancy had already pulled up Alan Power for a bout of wrestling when Matt Millar decided to get a bit too close and personal with Porteous.
The official pointed to the spot and Boyle drove the penalty high down the middle.
St Mirren struck the goal frame when Shaughnessy slid to meet near-post cross, while substitute Curtis Main screamed for a penalty after tumbling under the attentions of Paul Hanlon. Clancy waved him away.
Shaughnessy would have his moment. Scott Tanser’s powers of endurance carried him to the byline and his technique dug out a cross that deserved to be buried.
His captain obliged with a stooping header and the men in red celebrated gleefully behind the goal.
There were two minutes left but neither team was willing to settle.
Allan struck the post with a deflected shot before Kyle McAllister forced Macey to look smart with a low drive.
And, in the final act, Kevin Nisbet bashed a free-kick over the bar.
Ross added: ‘We’re frustrated with the way the game finished but it’s been a strange afternoon because we remain undefeated and are top of the table.’