St Johnstone 1 Hibs 1
Despite a dominant showing in our first match of 2025, Hibs were made to settle for a share of the spoils in Perth.
On another afternoon, we could’ve won quite comfortably as the boys gave their all throughout a tough contest with St Johnstone.
We had efforts from Chris Cadden and Josh Campbell cleared off the line during the first half before a foul at the other end allowed Nicky Clark to fire the hosts ahead from the penalty spot.
They did so with ten men having had Jason Holt red carded following a high challenge on Chris Cadden.
Nevertheless, we piled on the pressure after the break with Martin Boyle having an effort chalked off, Campbell hitting the crossbar and substitute Dwight Gayle popping up with a deserved equaliser.
The Hibees pushed hard for a winning goal and had further opportunities, however we were unable to grind out a fifth consecutive victory as it ended a point apiece.
With skipper Joe Newell unable to shake off a knock sustained in our narrow victory over Kilmarnock, his place in the side was taken by Hyeokkyu Kwon.
Boyle took over the captain's armband whilst Rudi Molotnikov – fresh from signing a new four-year-deal with the Club – was back in the matchday squad.
St Johnstone made a quadruple change from their last outing with Holt, Drey Wright, Adama Sidibeh and Benjamin Kimpioka all restored to their starting XI.
Hibs were backed by almost 3,000 fans in Perth and lined-up in our 3-4-2-1 formation.
Hibernian started the match on the front foot, taking the game to the hosts and winning several corner kicks.
In the 7th minute, a clever corner kick routine involving Nicky Cadden playing it short to Junior Hoilett saw us carve out a goal scoring chance as Kwon ran onto the cutback only for his strike to be deflected wide.
St Johnstone were looking to play the ball in behind us on our left to utilise the pace of Sidibeh and almost got early joy from it.
On 11 minutes, the hosts missed a big chance when Wright’s pass inside was dummied by Clark into the path of Sidibeh, who with a clear sight of goal, skewed his shot wide of the far post.
Moments later, Sidibeh had another opportunity on the counterattack and whilst this time his rising shot was on target; it was comfortably into the midriff of Jordan Smith.
We would then go on to enjoy our best period of pressure in the first half which started with Saints 'keeper Josh Rae dropping a routine cross and Jack Sanders hooking it clear before Nicky Cadden could pounce.
Seconds later, Hoilett’s low cross was met by Chris Cadden and the defender’s fierce shot was hooked off the line by Sanders with Rae beaten.
Sanders was impressive at the back for Saints this afternoon and he came up with another big save moments later when Boyle brought a cross down on his chest only for the defender to block his shot at goal.
We were creating big opportunities and had another when Kwon’s low delivery across the face of goal was only just out of the reach of Hoilett at the back post.
Six minutes from half-time the hosts were reduced to ten men when Holt’s challenge on Chris Cadden saw him go over the top of the ball and catch the defender on the ankle.
Although referee Lloyd Wilson initially handed out a yellow card to the Saints’ midfielder, this was upgraded to a red after the official was asked to review the decision by VAR, Grant Irvine.
With the break looming we were again denied on the line as Bozo Mikulic blocked Campbell’s effort after Hoilett had split the home defence wide open.
Yet, we would be made to pay for not taking our chances when Rocky fouled Sanders in time added on and Clark converted the spot kick to give the ten men a narrow lead at the interval.
Neither side made any changes during the break, and we were quickly on the attack with Nicky Cadden bringing down Lewis Miller’s cross before firing a half-volley goalward that Rae saved at his near post.
From the resultant corner kick from Boyle, Campbell saw a back post volley blocked point-blank by Wright.
Hibs had the ball in the back of Saints’ net on 59 minutes when Boyle turned in a Nicky Cadden cross at the back post, however Hoilett had flicked the delivery on from an offside position and the effort didn’t stand.
That was the cue for a triple change with Jordan Obita, Dylan Levitt and Gayle replacing Miller, Kwon and Jack Iredale.
On 64 minutes, a fine delivery from Nicky Cadden on the left picked out Campbell, however under pressure he was unable to keep his header down and it finished wide of goal.
The Hibees were piling on the pressure, yet St Johnstone were standing firm. Gray opted to replace Hoilett with Harry McKirdy for the final 20 minutes as we sought to breakdown the hosts resolve.
Further chances came and went with Chris Cadden shooting over the top from a Boyle cutback before Nectar Triantis was denied by Rae.
With 11 minutes remaining we deservedly levelled. Chris Cadden’s cross from the right was only partially cleared and Triantis nodded it back into the danger area for Gayle to slot it past Rae from close range.
Now level, the boys pushed for a winner with Nicky Cadden fizzing a shot just over and Josh Campbell heading against the crossbar, either side of a remarkable stramash.
It started with Triantis’ shot being saved by the feet of Rae before McKirdy was thwarted from the loose ball and Gayle’s shot was deflected wide for a corner kick.
We had further chances in the closing moments when Triantis shot over from the edge of the box and Gayle headed wide from a Nicky Cadden corner kick as Saints just hung on to claim a draw.