Henderson the hero as Hibs sink Saints
DAVID GRAY had a Henderson to thank once again as he got his latest stint as Hibs’ caretaker boss off to a winning start at St Mirren.
It was Liam Henderson who supplied the corner for Gray’s famous Scottish Cup-winning header against Rangers in 2016 and this time it was younger brother Ewan who delivered the telling moment in a game of few chances in Paisley.
Henderson showed sufficient composure in the 74th minute to finish well beyond goalkeeper Jak Alnwick despite hopeful offside appeals from the home side that fell on deaf ears.
Gray has been placed in temporary charge of Hibs until the end of the season following Shaun Maloney’s sacking earlier in the week and this result ought to make the final four games more comfortable than it might otherwise have been. Hibs now sit 10 points clear of the relegation play-off spot with their work all but done for the season.
However, the same can’t be said for St Mirren, who are enduring a wretched run of form.
Manager Stephen Robinson has now won only one of his opening nine games as manager — losing the other eight — to leave his team just five points ahead of 11th-placed St Johnstone, who they now face in a huge game at McDiarmid Park next Saturday. Lose that one and the tension will ratchet up even further.
Gray’s first temporary mission earlier in the season — following Jack Ross’ sacking — had also started in Paisley, a late equaliser from Joe Shaughnessy denying him a winning start that day.
He resisted the urge to put too much of a personal stamp on things second time around, making just the one enforced change, Elias Melkersen replacing the suspended Ryan Porteous, from the team beaten at Hampden by Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final last week.
His opposite number had been more adventurous with his selection, Robinson making five changes following the loss to Rangers and then being forced into a sixth early in the contest when Richard Tait picked up a knock and was replaced by Jay Henderson.
When Chris Cadden also hobbled off for Hibs not long after, on came Josh Doig. But it did little to help the flow of a game that unfolded at such a pedestrian pace it was as if neither side had anything to play for.
James Scott was a rare exception in the first half, the ex-Motherwell forward leading the line for Hibs with a sense of urgency lacking in many others on the pitch even if his one attempt on goal was well off target. Eamonn Brophy has yet to score a goal at home after leaving Kilmarnock for St Mirren but he came close twice before the break.
The striker was inches away from getting on the end of Henderson’s ball from the right but couldn’t quite get there, the cross eventually hacked away by Hibs defender Paul McGinn for a corner.
Brophy did get something on Scott Tanser’s enticing ball in from the other flank not long after but his header lacked the sufficient menace to trouble visiting keeper Matt Macey.
It was the only meaningful attempt on target from either side in an opening period to forget.
Brophy lasted only four minutes after the restart, an injury forcing him off with the lively Alex Greive substituting. And he volleyed a half-chance over the crossbar at the back post from a long throw-in.
Hibs had looked content to play on the counter attack but still looked more dangerous with the few chances they created.
Scott ought to have done better than head into Alnwick’s arms but any disappointment would soon be forgotten when the visitors got in front after 74 minutes.
St Mirren claimed for offside when Harry Clarke took possession on the Hibs right but the flag stayed down allowing the defender to poke a pass through to Henderson.
The angle was tight but the on-loan Celtic player finished well.
The Paisley side, though, should have been level not long after.
Henderson’s cross fell kindly for Scott Tanser but his half-volley crashed against the crossbar when the wing-back probably ought to have scored.
Greive did manage a subsequent effort on target but it lacked any power to beat Macey.
Minutes later, Curtis Main headed a Jordan Jones corner over the bar as Saints strived for the equaliser.
However, Josh Campbell could have wrapped up victory for Hibs but he couldn’t direct his effort on target. In the end, though, one goal was all they needed.