Hibs 0-1 St Johnstone: Error gifts visitors win in game short on chances
The defender did well to win possession deep inside his own half but he inexplicably passed the ball straight to former Hibs loanee Glenn Middleton, who finished past Ofir Marciano from the edge of the area.
Hibs tried to carve out chances and threw everything at the St Johnstone goal in the second half but fell to another home defeat against the Perthshire side.
Hibs v St Johnstone live
Key Events
- Fifth meeting of the season with the visitors having won two games to Hibs’ one, with one drawn game
- Jamie Murphy could be named in squad; Cadden and Mackie are sidelined
- Hibs aiming to keep Aberdeen at bay
Marciano takes a cross ball and sends Doig away down the line. After a few exchanges of passes Hibs have a throw-in level with the St Johnstone penalty spot
CHANCE!
Paul McGinn with an inviting low cross and it cannons off a St Johnstone defender and out for a corner, which comes to nothing
YELLLOW CARD!
Joe Newell cautioned for barging over Middleton to avoid a 1v1 scenario. I believe they call that ‘taking one for the team’.
Middleton with another chance from the edge of the area but a deflection takes the sting out of it and Marciano collects
CHANCE!
Irvine with a fantastic cross to the backpost, Boyle tries to flick it past Parish but the ‘keeper produces a fine save to deny an Aussie combination goal
Porteous gives the ball away again, but produces a robust challenge to win the ball back from O’Halloran, who is now moving a bit tenderly
Newell goes on a mazy run into the box - he should shoot, but he doesn’t and St Johnstone clear Doig then sends a speculative header (is there such a thing?) towards goal but Parish gathers
Newell with a cross looking for Boyle, he connects but it’s a goal kick. Hibs running out of time to find an equaliser before the interval
YELLOW CARD!
Booth is booked for taking out McGinn on the wing. Newell standing over the free kick... but it comes to nothing.
HALF TIME
That is that for the first 45 at Easter Road. Hibs started fairly strongly but that error by Porteous gifted Saints the opener and since then they have held firm as Hibs chase a way back into the game.
Truth be told, Hibs look a little heavy-legged at times. There’s been some nice passing and some good touches but too often it breaks down in the final third.
Hibs’ best chance probably fell to Boyle on 36 minutes when he did well to direct Irvine’s cross goalwards but couldn’t beat Parish in the St Johnstone goal.
Big second half needed from the hosts now. Don’t think we’ll see any personnel changes for the second period but something needs to change if they are to take anything from this game.
Newell sends Boyle through on goal but he makes a meal of it and when he finally gets a shot away, it’s beaten away for a corner and St Johnstone clear
O’Halloran does well on a driving run towards the Hibs box, he slips it out to Brown whose cross sails out for a goal kick
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