Match report: Saints 1-1 Hibernian

Saints started brightly however, were reduced to ten men on 41 minutes as Jason Holt was sent off following a VAR check for a foul on Chris Cadden.

Saints took the lead 4 minutes into first half stoppage time as they were awarded a penalty after Rocky Bushiri wrestled Jack Sanders to the ground and Nicky Clark converted the spot kick to give Saints a half time lead.

Hibs used their man advantage during the second half as they pressed forward for an equaliser. Martin Boyle saw his effort ruled out for offside on 59 minutes. However, the Hibs pressure eventually told with 11 minutes remaining as substitute Dwight Gayle slotted home from close range to rescue a point for the visitors.

Saints are back in action on Sunday as they welcome Dundee to McDiarmid Park, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Hibs to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for their first game of 2025. Saints lost 4-0 to Celtic on Sunday and Simo Valakari made four changes to his starting eleven for this afternoon’s William Hill Premiership match. Drey Wright, Jason Holt, Adama Sidibeh and Benji Kimpioka came in to replace Aaron Essel and Matt Smith, who dropped to the bench, whilst Kyle Cameron and Makenzie Kirk missed out completely. Hibs defeated Kilmarnock 1-0 on Sunday and manager David Gray made one change to the side that started at Easter Road as Hyeokkyu Kwon came in to replace Joe Newell, who missed out completely.

It was a cold sunny afternoon in Perth as Josh Campbell got the match underway for the visitors.

Saints created the first chance of the match in the first minute as Adama Sidibeh did well to beat the offside trap before bursting forward and playing in Fran Franczak. The Poland under 18 international then tried to pick out Benji Kimpioka in the centre of the box however, Nectarios Triantis was alert to the danger as he turned the ball behind. Jason Holt took the corner from the right and his delivery picked out Jack Sanders however, he could not find the target with his effort.

On 11 minutes Saints created a great chance to take the lead. Drey Wright played the ball into the box and Nicky Clark produced a clever dummy which allowed the ball to roll through to Sidibeh however, he dragged his first time effort wide.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh and Jack Iredale

Hibs came agonisingly close to taking the lead on 19 minutes as Nicky Cadden played the ball down the left channel to Junior Hoilett and the Canadian did well to take it around Sanders and then sent over a dangerous delivery into the Saints box. The ball fell to Chris Cadden, who was racing into the box, and the defender unleashed a strike at goal but Sanders had recovered well as he made a brilliant clearance off the line to keep the score level.

The visitors were starting to come more into the game and on 26 minutes Triantis played in Martin Boyle down the right however, the Hibs captain saw his strike deflected behind for corner by Sanders. The Easter Road side then created another chance on 38 minutes as Nicky Cadden played in Hyeokkyu Kwon down the left and the on-loan Celtic midfielder sent over an inviting low ball across the face of the Saints goal which was just out of the reach of Hoilett at the back post.

Then on 41 minutes Saints were reduced to ten men as Jason Holt was sent off for a foul on Chris Cadden. The Saints midfielder had originally been booked for the foul by referee Lloyd Wilson however, he was asked to review the incident on the monitor by VAR official Grant Irvine and Wilson decided to upgrade the yellow card to a red card.

PHOTO: Jason Holt is sent off after a VAR check

As the match approached half time Campbell saw his cross blocked by Božo Mikulić, with the Hibs support in the North Stand behind the goal appealing for a penalty for a hand ball by the Croatian defender, however, Lloyd Wilson was not interested in the appeals.  

However, deep into the first half stoppage time Saints were awarded a penalty of their own after Sanders was wrestled to the turf by Rocky Bushiri following a Franczak corner. Nicky Clark stepped up to take the penalty and the Saints captain coolly despatched it into the bottom corner of the net, sending Jordan Smith the wrong way, to give Saints a half time lead.

5 minutes into the second half Triantis picked out Campbell however, Josh Rae made a good save as he turned the ball behind for a corner.

PHOTO: Nicky Clark scores from the spot

On 57 minutes a Franczak cross from the right picked out Sidibeh at the back post however, the Gambian couldn’t direct his header on target.

Then just before the hour mark Hibs thought they had levelled the match when Boyle tapped home a Nicky Cadden cross however, the Main Stand assistant had his flag up for offside. A VAR review then followed and it backed the on-field decision to disallow the goal as Hoilett had been offside when he flicked the ball on in the build-up.

Hibs were using their man advantage to control the second half and they came close again on 64 minutes when Campbell saw his header go over from a Nicky Cadden cross.

PHOTO: Božo Mikulić and Nectarios Triantis

Saints then made a double change as David Keltjens and Matt Smith came on to replace Fran Franczak and Adama Sidibeh.

Hibs continued to pile the pressure on the Saints goal and on 74 minutes Boyle cut the ball back to Chris Cadden however, he couldn’t get his effort on target. Then 3 minutes later a shot from Triantis was straight at Rae who comfortably gathered the ball.

However, the Hibs pressure told with 11 minutes remaining as they levelled the match. Chris Cadden sent over another cross into the Saints box which was cleared by Sven Sprangler however, his clearance only went as far as Triantis. The on-loan Sunderland midfielder headed the ball back into the danger area and Hibs substitute Dwight Gayle reacted quickest to prod the ball beyond Rae from 8 yards.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka fends off Dylan Levitt

The Easter Road side now went in search of a winner and on 82 minutes Boyle played in Triantis whose effort was brilliantly saved by Rae. Then with 4 minutes remaining Campbell saw his header from a Nicky Cadden cross comeback off the crossbar.

6 minutes of stoppage time was added on at the end and deep into added on time a Nicky Cadden cross picked out Gayle however the forward put his header wide as Saints showed great character to see the game out to earn a well-deserved point.

Saints: Rae, Mikulić, Raymond, Sanders, Holt, Clark, Wright, Sidibeh (Smith 68’), Sprangler, Kimpioka, Franczak (Keltjens 67’)

Unused Substitutes: Hepburn (GK), Carey, Essel, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Dair, Brookfield   

Booked: Clark

Sent Off: Holt

Scorer: Clark (45+4’ pen)

Hibernian: Smith, Miller (Obita 60’), Boyle, C. Cadden, Iredale (Gayle 61’), Kwon (Levitt 61’), N. Cadden, Hoilett (McKirdy 71’), Triantis, Campbell (Molotnikov 86’), Bushiri

Unused Substitutes: Bursik (GK), O’Hora, Amos, Welsh

Booked: Iredale, Bushiri, Triantis

Scorer: Gayle (79’)

Referee: Lloyd Wilson    

VAR: Grant Irvine     

Attendance: 6,287

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Fran Franczak holds off Nicky Cadden