Striker question, Mallan return, winning ugly - 3 talking points from Hibs' 1-0 win at St Johnstone

Patrick McPartlin looks at three talking points from Hibs’ narrow win in Perth

The Hibs players celebrate Stevie Mallan's winner

Do Hibs need another striker?

Kevin Nisbet missed the trip to Perth and could be a doubt for next week's meeting with Aberdeen, leaving Hibs with just Christian Doidge and Jamie Gullan as first-team attackers.

Should Jack Ross wish to play two strikers against Aberdeen and Nisbet doesn't recover, he faces a selection dilemma.

Does he start Doidge and Gullan and promote rookie striker Ryan Shanley to the bench, or does he pair Martin Boyle up front with the Welshman and keep Gullan among his replacements?

The return to fitness of Drey Wright coupled with Boyle's versatility does give Ross options - the former can operate as a right winger or right wingback in a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 while the latter can be deployed as a centre-forward.

Boyle scored an opening-day double while playing as a striker against Kilmarnock - Ross could well return to that tried-and-tested formula if necessary, but having a fourth option in case of injuries could help Hibs this season if they want to maintain this form.

Gullan has already shown glimpses of his talent and will no doubt be given plenty of gametime this season but having that extra body up front could help lift the pressure on the current strikeforce.

When life gives you Mallan...

Stevie Mallan's cameo as a sub will give Jack Ross a selection headache in the lead-up to the Aberdeen game.

Although his goal was from the spot, the former St Mirren man will be on cloud nine after netting on his first appearance since December last year and being on that much of a high could give the whole team a lift going into the Dons encounter.

By his own admission, the midfielder didn't perform to the best of his abilities in the first half of last season and he will be eager to make up for lost time after overcoming a niggly knee injury.

That energy and determination could be exactly what the side needs to maintain their unbeaten run when Derek McInnes brings his side to the Capital next Sunday.

The 24-year-old is a threat from dead-ball situations as well as anywhere from between 18 and 35 yards from the opposition goal.

His return to full fitness could allow Ross to tweak his set-up next week to try and avoid a fourth successive game where Hibs seem to be huffing and puffing in pursuit of victory but even if the Easter Road boss opts to start Mallan on the bench, having a potential matchwinner as an option in the second half could be just as vital.

Win ugly, win often

How often have we seen Hibs play fast, free-flowing, attacking football and have nothing to show for it at the end of the 90 minutes?

It would be premature for Hibs fans to be searching for the Champions League theme tune on Spotify but the early evidence this season is that Jack Ross has finally managed to turn Hibs into a team capable of winning ugly.

It could be argued that the Easter Road side barely deserved their 1-0 win at Dundee United earlier this month and despite leading St Johnstone in all stats, few Hibs fans would have had much cause for complaint had the match finished goalless.

That Hibs now seem capable of grinding out results in the most unlikely of situations could be the difference between one or two positions come the end of the season.

There was a healthy dose of good fortune for the Capital club in Perth. Callum Hendry's disallowed goal for the hosts could have stood, or the penalty might not have been awarded.

But as the old adage goes, you make your own luck. If Hibs keep plugging away, they'll get more than their fair share of the rub of the green this season.