Hibs don’t miss a trick and it works a treat
LEE JOHNSON spent time this week discussing how his Hibernian players need to deal better with certain ‘plot twists’ in matches.
How fitting, then, that they should finally deliver a more upbeat tale and avoid another horror story two days before Halloween.
Coming into their match against St Mirren on a run of three straight defeats in the Premiership, having previously recorded four wins in a row, the Easter Road men tore up the script again in what has been an inconsistent season so far.
In a breathless first half, Ukrainian striker Mykola Kukharevych saw an early effort ruled out after a VAR check led to offside being spotted in the build-up. After chances for both teams, Martin Boyle struck from the penalty spot just before half-time following another VAR check which eventually penalised Saints defender Richard Tait for handball.
Kukharevych and Ewan Henderson netted in the second half to seal victory and ensure the three points for Johnson’s team, who rose to third spot in the table.
This being Hibs, though, there is always a twist and it came in cruel circumstances for Boyle, who hobbled off in the 54th minute with an apparent knock to his shin.
Johnson admitted afterwards that he will be saying a few prayers in hope that the Australian international’s injury isn’t too serious with the World Cup approaching next month.
For the hosts, though, his departure did not seriously disrupt their momentum as they claimed the win.
St Mirren, who dropped to fifth and are a point behind Hibs with a game in hand, are still struggling away from home — in contrast to their success in Paisley, where they are unbeaten after an opening-day loss to Motherwell.
Having been the first team to host VAR during last weekend’s introduction to Scottish football, Hibs didn’t need to wait long for the new system to thwart them at Easter Road.
A swift passing move in six minutes saw Joe Newell slip Marijan Cabraja a pass on the left side of the box and he swept the ball across the face of goal for Kukharevych to score from close range. However, the Ukrainian’s effort was soon ruled out due to Cabraja being offside in the build-up.
Hibs nearly put that early setback behind them just three minutes later when Newell dinked the ball through for Ryan Porteous but the defender’s effort flew wide.
St Mirren responded when striker Jonah Ayunga burst into the penalty box but his effort was pushed wide by Hibs goalkeeper David Marshall.
The hosts threatened again from the left when a terrific delivery found Boyle at the back post but his volley was well parried by Saints keeper Trevor Carson.
The chances kept coming, first as Ethan Erhahon slipped Curtis Main
through in the box but the Saints striker’s shot was diverted wide by Marshall.
Hibs then wasted two decent opportunities. Henderson shot wide after moving the ball onto his right foot, having been set up by Boyle before the winger then chased down a pass on the right but a heavy touch allowed Carson to race out to gather.
Just as the first half seemed to be drifting towards the interval, a spot of VAR drama arrived in stoppage time. Chris Cadden’s shot was blocked by Tait, with the Hibs players screaming for handball and a penalty.
Referee Don Robertson got the nod from VAR Greg Aitken to take a look at the pitchside monitor.
From then, the outcome seemed inevitable. Sure enough, Robertson pointed to the spot, Tait was booked and up stepped Boyle to calmly slot the ball into the corner of the net, sending Carson the wrong way.
Tait was subbed at half-time and then Boyle’s joy turned to despair less than 10 minutes after the restart. Having been caught by his team-mate Nohan Kenneh a few minutes earlier, the Hibs winger was soon back down on the turf again and couldn’t continue, much to the concern of everyone in green and white inside Easter Road. Elias Melkersen took his place.
Kukharevych somehow spurned the chance to make amends for his earlier disappointment when he failed to convert from close range after Newell had cut the ball back from the right.
The Ukrainian was soon smiling, however, a few minutes later when he finally added his name to the scoresheet. A lovely move led to Henderson’s pass feeding the striker, who outmuscled Alex Gogic and curled the ball into the net.
Henderson soon got involved in the action with a beautiful goal four minutes later.
Melkersen’s cross from the left took a kind deflection off a Saints body and the ball fell straight to the former Celtic midfielder, who struck a terrific shot into the top-left corner.
With the game won, Hibs settled for three goals but Saints could have added a consolation effort in stoppage time had Gogic not steered his header wide of Marshall’s right-hand post.