Ten-man Saints hit by Hibs’ quick one-two
ST JOHNSTONE 1
Gordon (40)
HIBS 2
Nisbet 983), Murphy (86)
They say goals change games but sendings off can make a huge difference, too.
Callum Davidson’s side were on course for victory here before Craig Bryson was dispatched for the proverbial early bath on the stroke of half-time.
The Saints midfielder was sent off for committing two separate bookable offences – neither of which he could have had any complaints about.
He clattered straight into Ryan Porteous at the end of the
first quarter and then upended Joe Newell in full view of referee Euan Anderson.
Knowing what was to come, Bryson looked a disconsolate figure but it did not help him with the official going straight into his pocket for both a yellow and a red card.
And just like that Hibs, who had lost their previous five league games, were handed a man advantage and they were able to cash in with a late double from Kevin Nisbet and Jamie Murphy.
“Craig knows himself, we don’t need to tell him after getting ourselves in a good position in the game,” said Davidson.
“This was always going to be a tight. Ultimately the sending off has cost us the game.
“It was two bookings. He’s taken a bad first touch and gone in and these days that tackle will always turn into a booking.”
Nisbet was never far from the action here and had to go through his share of frustrations before coming out on top with two goals chopped off before he got on the scoresheet.
For the first he coolly ran on to a pass and beat Zander Clark only to have his celebrations spoiled by the sight of the stand side assistant’s flag, to indicate offside.
If he was unhappy about the disallowed goal, he was furious after Bryson’s high boot on his foot left him in agony.
Referee Euan Anderson had waved play on and when the official came to check on the Hibs man’s health he was treated to an on the spot reenactment from the victim.
Eetu Vertainen, on his first league start, quickly showed why he was in with some eyecatching bits of skill and neat link-up play with Ali Crawford.
Michael O’halloran was clearly in the mood too, leaving successive Hibs defenders in his wake as he cut in from the right before sending a shot just past the far post.
Saints’ breakthrough was as simple as they come.
Ali Crawford swung a cross in, Liam Gordon rose highest at the back of the box to power a header goalwards and, with the aid of a deflection off Ryan Porteous, his effort beat Matt Macey in the Hibs goal.
Having given themselves the lead they then conspired to put themselves at a numerical disadvantage for the second half through Bryson’s recklessness.
Davidson quickly switched things around. Cammy Macpherson was sent on as a like-for-like replacement for Bryson with Vertainen the striker sacrificed and O’halloran left to make as much of a nuisance of himself as he could up front.
As much as it all made sense, there was no mistaking which side had lost a player.
Chris Cadden zipped a long effort off the crossbar and Jamie Murphy forced a great save from Zander Clark.
They were not to be denied, though, with Nisbet calmly netting from Murphy’s assist for the equaliser.
Murphy then rounded things off with a smart finish at the back post after he was picked out by a beauty of a pass from Scott Allan.