Match report: Hibernian 3-0 Saints

Hibs took the lead on 18 minutes as Saints failed to clear their lines and Jordan Obita picked out Hoilett on the left who cut inside before curling an exquisite finish into the far corner of the net.

The Easter Road side doubled their lead just before the half an hour mark when Martin Boyle slotted a low strike into the net from 15 yards.

Saints made changes at the break however, they couldn’t find a way back into the game as Hibs wrapped up the points in second half stoppage time. Kieron Bowie was tripped in the box by Daniels Balodis and the forward picked himself up to slot home from the spot, sending Andy Fisher the wrong way, to cap off a poor afternoon in the capital.

Saints are back in action next Sunday as they welcome Celtic to McDiarmid Park, kick off 12pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints returned to William Hill Premiership action this afternoon following the international break as they headed to the capital to take on Hibs at Easter Road. Prior to the break Saints battled out a goalless draw with Aberdeen at McDiarmid Park and Simo Valakari made two changes to the side which started against the Dons for this afternoon’s match. Stephen Duke-McKenna and Adama Sidibeh both dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Jonathan Svedberg and Victor Griffith. Hibs were held to a 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock a fortnight ago and Head Coach David Gray made one change to his starting eleven this afternoon as Kieron Bowie dropped to the bench and he was replaced by Myko Kuharevich.

Before the match got underway there was a minute’s applause for former Hibs man John Fraser who passed away earlier this month.

Victor Griffth got the match underway for Saints and the Perth side were awarded a free kick on 13 minutes after Daniels Balodis was fouled out wide on the right by Junior Hoilett. The free kick was taken by Barry Douglas and he whipped over a dangerous ball into the Hibs box which was eventually cleared by the hosts.

PHOTO: Victor Griffith gets between Jordan Obita and Nectar Triantis

On 18 minutes Andy Fisher made a strong save with his feet to deny Martin Boyle. However, the Easter Road side kept up the pressure as Jordan Obita worked the ball out to Hoilett and the Canadian cut inside before firing a fine curling effort into the top corner of the net.

A Saints attack on 27 minutes saw Jason Holt send over an inviting cross from the right however, his delivery was turned behind for a corner by Rocky Bushiri. The hosts comfortably defended the corner and a minute later created a chance of their own to double the lead as a Obita cross from the left picked out Myko Kuharevich who somehow fired over from close range.

The Easter Road side didn’t miss on 29 minutes as they made it 2-0. Hoilett's sliding challenge on Sven Sprangler sent the ball straight through to Boyle. The Hibs man raced forward and made no mistake as he fired a low strike from 15 yards beyond Fisher in the Saints goal.

PHOTO: Makenzie Kirk and Rocky Bushiri

Simo Valakari rung the changes at half time as Benji Kimpioka, Stephen Duke-McKenna and Taylor Steven came on to replace Makenzie Kirk, Sam Curtis and Drey Wright.

Nectarios Triantis won Hibs a free kick on the right wing on 48 minutes after he was fouled by Jonathan Svedberg. Boyle took the free kick and his curling delivery was turned behind by Kuharevich.

On 56 minutes Fisher pulled off a good save to deny Kuharevich after the on-loan Swansea City forward had got on the end of Hoilett’s lay off.

PHOTO: Stephen Duke-McKenna is tackled by Nectar Triantis

Saints made another change just before the hour mark as Graham Carey came on to replace Barry Douglas, who had picked up a knock.

Sprangler then picked up a booking for a foul on Kuharevich. Hibs also made changes as they freshened it up by introducing Kieron Bowie, Alasana Manneh and Dwight Gayle into the action.

With 12 minutes remaining Svedberg was the next player in referee’s Matthew MacDermid’s book as he picked up a yellow card for a foul on Manneh.

On 81 minutes Carey played in Kimpioka who broke to the byeline before seeing his cutback cleared by the Hibs defence. The Easter Road side then hit Saints on a quick counterattack as Triantis played in Bowie however, Fisher made a good save to deny the forward.

PHOTO: Zach Mitchell and Junior Hoilett

A minute later Saints made their final change of the game as Nicky Clark came on to replace Jonathan Svedberg.

With 2 minutes remaining Bowie was played in by Hoilett however, Fisher got down well to turn the strike from the forward behind for a corner.

5 minutes of additional time was added on at the end and deep into stoppage time Hibs were given the chance to make it three as they were awarded a penalty. Bushiri had won possession in midfield and charged forward before playing in Bowie who drew the foul from Balodis. MacDermid pointed to the spot and Bowie stepped up to send Fisher the wrong way to wrap up the points for the Leith side.

Hibernian: Smith, Miller, Levitt (Manneh 74’), Boyle (Gayle 74’), Cadden, Iredale, Obita, Hoilett (Campbell 88’), Triantis, Bushiri, Kuharevich (Bowie 65’)

Unused Substitutes: Bursik (GK), Ekpiteta, O’Hora, Moriah-Welsh, Molotnikov

Booked: Iredale

Scorers: Hoilett (18’), Boyle (29’), Bowie (90+5’ pen)

Saints: Fisher, Balodis, Mitchell, Griffith, Holt, Svedberg (Clark 82’), Wright (Steven 45’), Sprangler, Kirk (Kimpioka 45’), Douglas (Carey 59’), Curtis (Duke-McKenna 45’)

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Sidibeh, Smith, Watt

Booked: Sprangler, Svedberg, Holt

Referee: Matthew MacDermid

VAR: Grant Irvine

Attendance: 17,002

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Daniels Balodis and Jack Iredale