Hibs 0-1 St Johnstone: Error gifts visitors win in game short on chances

Hibs take on St Johnstone this afternoonplaceholder image
Hibs take on St Johnstone this afternoon
A first-half mistake from Ryan Porteous was enough to hand St Johnstone all three points and leave Hibs sweating in the race for third.

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

Paul McGinn with an inviting low cross and it cannons off a St Johnstone defender and out for a corner, which comes to nothing

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

Few tasty challenges going in now. McCann on Gogic, Bryson on Newell.

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

Doidge then can’t quite reach a deep free kick, and St Johnstone have the goal kick.

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

Irvine is booked for a foul and he is livid. Jack Ross also none too impressed.

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

Booth is booked for taking out McGinn on the wing. Newell standing over the free kick... but it comes to nothing.

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.

No changes for either side

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

Boyle’s corner falls to Gogic and he tries an acrobatic effort but it flies just over.

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

McCann next into the referee’s book for a sore one on Newell. Marciano arguing it should have been red...

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1873
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice