More to come from Saints, vows gaffer after third win in row
Baccus (6)
Stephen Robinson insisted there was still more to come from his team as St Mirren sunk sorry Hibs to win their third game in a row.
Keanu Baccus’ strike after just seven minutes proved to be the only goal of the game, to leave Lee Johnson’s men struggling without a win in four.
Saints were by far the better team in the first half and then withstood a Hibs storm at the start of the second period, with Elie Youan missing a sitter to draw his side level.
The Buddies could have made things a lot more comfortable towards the end but Eamonn Brophy and Baccus missed four or five great chances between them to extend their lead.
But it didn’t matter in the end as Saints ran down the clock to claim another precious home win and move up to fifth in the table.
Robinson, who could yet add to his squad before Thursday’s deadline, said: “You always think something is going to happen at the end. But we defended brilliantly, the back five were excellent at times.
“Martin Boyle is a very good player but hardly threatened. The work and energy of our midfield three were excellent.
“Brophy, normally he’d put them away. Keanu could’ve had a hattrick. There’s a lot more to come from us I believe. We won’t get carried away.
“It’s not a surprise to me when you’ve got the type of boys we’ve got – organised, disciplined, hard to break down.”
Saints made the perfect start with a goal after just seven minutes. Hibs gave Ryan Strain far too much space to burst down the right wing.
The wing-back had enough time to spot the run of fellow Aussie Baccus and the midfielder couldn’t miss from about 10 yards as he claimed his first goal for the Buddies.
Hibs looked rattled and did well not to concede again as the home side burst forward at will, looking for opportunities.
Early bookings for Joe Newell and Youan were another sign the visitors were well and truly under the pump.
Gradually, though, Hibs started to get a foothold in the game. Youan saw a volley from a corner deflected just wide before Chris Cadden burst forward to head Martin Boyle’s cross just off target.
Hibs were knocking at the door. Ryan Porteous was the unlikely creator of their next opportunity, sending in a tempting ball from the left that was brilliantly flicked on by Christian Doidge only to skip past the far post.
At the other end David Marshall had to look alive to push away Mark O’Hara’s downward header from Marcus Fraser’s deep cross.
Hibs needed to show more in the second half and they duly came out with all guns blazing, creating three great chances in the opening 10 minutes.
Youan should have drawn them level in the opening 45 seconds after latching on to Cadden’s deep ball but missed the target with the goal at his mercy.
Only a brilliant stop from Trevor Carson at full stretch then kept out Newell’s goal-bound drive before Richard Tait was brave to get in the way of Cadden’s thump on target.
Eamonn Brophy came on for Saints and thought he had scored, only to see his shot hit the inside of the far post and rebound to safety.
The striker has never scored a home goal for Saints and passed up another couple of great chances to break his duck.
Baccus also could have had a hat-trick but was wasteful with two late opportunities. But it didn’t matter as Hibs ran out of steam and ideas and were booed off by the travelling support.