Win gives Saints boss selection headache
HIBS 0
ST JOHNSTONE 1 Middleton (22)
St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson admits his players have given him a Scottish Cup semi-final selection headache after watching his team beat Hibs.
The visitors made seven changes for the trip to Easter Road but still emerged victorious courtesy of Glenn Middleton’s first-half strike, which came about following a Ryan Porteous error.
As well as Middleton, Elliot Parish, James Brown, Callum Booth, Craig Bryson, Michael O’Halloran and Chris Kane were all recalled to the team.
And Davidson, whose team climbed up to fifth in the Premiership ahead of Livingston on goal difference, admits his plans for the lastfour clash with St Mirren are now not as straightforward.
He said: “It shows the depth we have and I was pleased withtheplayersIcouldput onandtheplayerswhocame in were excellent and worked extremely hard.
“I probably did have a team in my head but people have now put question marks in that.
“That is good for me and makes it more difficult for me.
“Hopefully we will get through this week in training and everyone stays fit and healthy and we can look forward to Sunday.
“Over the last few weeks I’ve made a few changes with the aim of getting guys some game time. I am happy with any of the 18 players who I pick.”
Davidson, meanwhile, admits goalkeeper Zander Clark is a major doubt for the Hampden clash after picking up a toe injury celebrating last weekend’s quarter-final win over Rangers.
Clark was a hero at both ends at Ibrox after having a hand in Chris Kane’s equaliser before saving penalties from James Tavernier and Kemar Roofe in the stunning shoot-out win.
Davidson added: “I’m not sure what happened with Zander, I’ll need to investigate that further.
“I think he got himself involved in the celebrations and someone stood on his big toe.
“We will need to see how it settles down next week.”
The hosts were without prolific striker Kevin Nisbet with an ankle knock as head coach Jack Ross handed a start on the wing to former Saints player Drey Wright.
Hibs had the incentive of potentially confirming third place in the Premiership but they started like they had their own last-four clash with Dundee United on their mind.
A tame glancing header from Hibs striker Christian Doidge, that was easily gathered by Parish, was the only attempt at goal during the early exchanges.
Saints then took the lead following a glaring error by Hibs defender Porteous.
The centre-half initially did well to dispossess Michael O’Halloran by the corner flag but a moment of madness saw Porteous attempt to play a pass right across his box.
The ball fell kindly for Middleton just inside the area and the forward buried a shot past Ofir Marciano.
Perhaps missing Nisbet, the Leith outfit continued to look bereft of ideas in the attacking third.
In a rare opening, 10 minutes before the break, Jackson Irvine picked out Martin Boyle at the back post but the outstretched forward could only direct an effort straight at Parish.
The second half followed a similar pattern as Hibs struggled to get going.
Alex Gogic attempted to draw the hosts level with an overhead kick from a Boyle corner but his effort sailed over Parish’s bar.
At the other end, Middleton fired a free-kick from 20 yards over the bar but Saints held on to claim the win.