TIME LINE V HIBERNIAN
26th July 2016
PHOTO: Cillian Sheridan knocks home his first goal to make it 2-0.
It's all over - a terrific night for Saints who rack up a great win. Match report to follow
90 + 3 minutes - Saints force two late corners.
90 minutes - There will be 3 additional minutes.
The North Stand has long since emptied and Saints fans can enjoy the dying minutes of this game - we have been dominant from start to finish and thoroughly deserve this win.
87 minutes - Swankie nearly scores with his first touch but it is deflected for a corner.
Collin Samuel is on for Murray Davidson and Gavin Swankie is coming on for the stretchered Deuchar - a blot on an otherwide great night.
This is a lengthy stop and there is clear concern for the big front man.
84 minutes - ian Murray has taken Kenny Deuchar right out of the game an incredibly there is no foul. Deuchar is hurt a a stretcher is called for.
83 minutes - Our Graeme Smith saves from Wotherspoon who hits a 22 yard effort.
80 minutes - Saints are knocking it around now with cheers from the fans for each pass.
79 minutes - GOAL SAINTS!! Liam Craig has scored - just! His shot hits the legs of Smith but it trickles over the line. SAINTS 5 HIBS 1
77 minutes - PENALTY TO SAINTS! There has been a clear hand ball from a Liam Craig corner.
75 minutes - There will be no hat-trick for Sheridan - he is replaced by Steven Milne after a great shift.
72 minutes - Hibs' Manager John Hughes has been sent to the stand. He has remonstrated with the assistant constantly since the sending off.
71 minutes - GOAL SAINTS!!! Cillian Sheridan has got his second of the game. Deuchar has dug in deep in the penalty area and managed toi get the ball to Sheridan who has drilled it home. SAINTS 4 HIBS 1
69 minutes - STRAIGHT RED CARD FOR HIBS. Colin Nish is off the park five minutes after coming. It's a mystery at the moment and it is due to the nearside assistant drawing the attendtion of the referee to something.
66 minutes - GOAL HIBS. Anthony Stokes has got in behind the Perth defence, side stepped Smith and drilled it low into the net. careless from Saints. SAINTS 3 HIBS 1
63 minutes - GOAL SAINTS!! Kenny Deuchar is on the end of a great Sheridan cross and heads it firmly past Smith to make it 3-0. SAINTS 3 HIBS 0
62 minutes - Sheridan is released down the left but he fouls Bamba in the penalty box and it is a free kick.
58 minutes - A second change for Hibs - Wotherspoon for Zemmama
57 minutes - Steven Anderson is booked for a foul on Hogg as Hibs up the pressure. Hibs bring on Nish for Benjelloun before it is taken but Saints clear.
56 - Hibs have the ball in the net but are given offisde. It has taken a couple of deflections and Saints are relieved to see the flag.
55 minutes - Corner to Saints which Liam Craig takes, Michael Duberry rises and heads it cleanly but it is straight at Smith.
52 minutes - Saints cut through the middle of the Hibs defence again and Sheridan is on a through ball but Smith gets down to stop his parting effort. Hibs break to the other end but are offisde.
51 minutes - Derek Riordan is high and wide with an effort after a free kick falls to him on the edge of the box.
49 minutes - a great chance for Liam Craig but it falls to his weaker right foot and he drills it straight at the keeper when in space 16 yards from goal - a lucky deflection has taken the ball through to him.
47 minutes - A Liam Craig free kick is straight into the arms of Smith - Liam's delivery needs to be better.
46 minutes - We are underway again and Saints win a corner right away which is cleared to Moon who 25 yard drive is well wide.
45 + 1 minute - It's half-time. A great first half from Saints who deserve their lead.
44 minutes - Saints take a free kick quickly but it is ill-advised as Ian Murray crucnhes into Dave Mackay - hard but fair - and the Saints man is left toiling. Hibs fans are not happy that the game has been stopped.
43 minutes - Hibs pressure as half-time approaches but Saints are defending well so far.
41 minutes - Free kick to Hibs wide left, Saints clearand Hibs pump it back in but it runs right through to Smith
38 minutes - Spurred on by a fine Zemmama run Hibs create a bit of pressure for the first time but Smith is not tested.
35 minutes - Sheridan so close to driving the ball between the legs of the Hibs keeper after getting on the end of a nice Liam Craig ball into the box.
34 minutes - In a rare Hibs attack Miller tries to find Riordan but his pass is too heavy.
33 minutes - Sheridan tries to flick home a Chris Millar 22 yard drive after a Craig corner had been cleared but it hits a defender.
29 minutes - Dave Mackay wins a corner for Saints on the far side. Gartland is on the end of it but he can't get his header on target although he appears to be slightly impeded.
27 minutes - Graham Gartland gets a lenghy lecture from the referee after being penalised in the box for a clear push. Not sure it merits the big tongue lashing though!
25 minutes - Steven Anderson does well to open up a chance for Murray Davidson but his low cross can't find a taker.
Saints are dominating this game so far and Sol Bamba doesn't look comfortable when challenged by Sheridan who is not giving him a moment's peace.
21 minutes - Corner to Hibs but Riordan's kick is grabbed by Saints' keeper Smith.
17 minutes - Moon not far away from getting on the end of misplaced pass across the Hibs box.
15 minutes - Poor decision from the far side assistant who flags Sheridan offside when he was clearly onside when released by Millar.
13 minutes - Superb effort from Kenny Deuchar who rifles it in from just inside the box - great double handed save from Smith prevents 3-0.
12 Minutes - Saints surge forward again and Chris Millar is released by a great Liam Craig pass but he stumbles and the chance is gone. Murray Davidson still gets a shot in but it is past the post.
10 minutes - GOAL ST JOHNSTONE!! What a great move! It starts with a Duberry clearance which sets Liam Craig off down the left exchanging passes with Murray Davidson and Murray's low cross is swept into the net by Cillian Sheridan. SAINTS 2 HIBS 0
8 minutes - Corner to Saints but Liam Craig's delivery is poor.
5 minutes - GOAL ST JOHNSTONE!! Liam Craig has drilled it low from the edge of the box from a Sheridan lay-off - it's good reward for good early pressure. SAINTS 1 HIBS 0
There is potential for confusion with the goalkeepers tonight - both are called Graeme Smith!
2 minutes - Saints are shooting towards the Hibs fans in the North Stand and after a Liam Craig free kick the ball falls to Dave Mackay who has time to shoot but Smith grabs his effort comfortably.
Welcome to McDiarmid Park on a cold night in Perth.
Contrary to our earlier guess, Saints start with Steven Anderson at left back and Dave Mackay at right back!
Danny Grainger drops out of the squad for tonight’s game against Hibs – Steven Anderson comes into the side – probably at right back - and in all likelihood that will mean a switch to left back for Dave Mackay.
Jody Morris, Paul Sheerin and the injured Peter MacDonald all drop out to be replaced by Kevin Moon, Liam Craig and Kenny Deuchar.
SAINTS; Smith, Mackay, Anderson, Duberry, Gartland, Millar, Davidson, Moon, Craig, Deuchar, Sheridan. Subs: Main, Irvine, Connolly, Sheerin, Swankie, Milne, Samuel
HIBS: Smith, Hogg, Murray, Bamba, Hanlon, Miller, Zemmama, Rankin, Stokes, Benjelooun, Riordan. Subs: Stack, Cregg, Nish, Wotherspoon, Gow, Thicot, Stevenson