Saints striker Gregory Tade insists the team will come good this season, despite Hibs ensuring they left Easter Road empty-handed on Saturday.
The Frenchman, who squandered two glorious chances during his side’s 2-0 defeat, took it upon himself to shoulder the blame for their latest loss, but Tade says Saints aren’t pushing any panic buttons yet.
The Perth men have now failed to win a competitive match in 13 attempts their last a 1-0 success over Inverness Caley Thistle in March but Tade said: ”I don’t think the confidence is low because we are getting chances and there’s no doubt everyone who watched the game saw we were dangerous, but it’s down to me to put the ball away.
”Unfortunately we conceded two bad goals and Hibs at home were able to play but if we had been more clinical it would have been a different story.
”It was a big shock to be 1-0 down at half-time because we dominated the first half from start to finish and we got a sucker punch at the end. But I think it’s not the whole team playing badly, I’m playing up front and if the ball goes into these positions the team is doing well from back to middle.
”The team have done well to get the ball up and put it on a plate, so it’s down for me at that stage to get more clinical and do my job.
”I have always scored goals at every club I have been involved with so I need to get my head down and work hard. When it comes, the team will win games but unfortunately it didn’t come together today.”
Saints sprang something of a surprise in their line-up with the appearance of Murray Davidson in the starting XI, despite suggestions his troublesome knee injury would keep him sidelined.
As well as the return of Rowan Vine and Tade from suspension, the visitors were also boosted by the presence on the bench of Peter Pawlett, who signed on loan from Aberdeen in midweek.
Saints made all the early running and had a decent chance 10 minutes in when Murray Davidson was fouled at the edge of the area, although Paul Hanlon did well to block Liam Craig’s low shot at goal after his first free-kick attempt hit the wall.
Hanlon again had to make a saving challenge a minute later as Nigel Hasselbaink marauded into the area as Saints pressed, before Hibs defender Gary Deegan was caught in possession in 15 minutes and almost released Tade although the forward’s first touch proved too heavy and the chance was lost.
In 21 minutes, Murray Davidson’s ball beat the offside trap and sent Tade clear through, but James McPake’s last-ditch tackle prevented the striker getting a shot away at the crucial moment.
Dave Mackay and Vine then tried their luck with long-range efforts, before Vine had a half-volley smothered by Hibs keeper Ben Williams after Murray Davidson had chested down Craig’s cross.
Continued…
Saints were winning all the individual battles and just lacking that clinical touch in the final third while Hibs, on the other hand, had looked nervy, and probably would have been happy getting in at half-time goal-less.
As it was though, they somehow went in at the break a goal to the good.
With a minute of the half remaining, Leigh Griffiths swung a corner kick in, Paul Hanlon headed it goalwards and, despite Callum Davidson’s acrobatic attempt at a clearance underneath the crossbar, the officials ruled the ball had crossed the line.
It was harsh on the visitors, but the goal appeared to spark Pat Fenlon’s men into life and they started the second half in the same vein.
After Jorge Claros fired over early on, trickery by Paul Cairney in the box gave him a sight of goal in the 50th minute but Steven Anderson did well to make a sliding challenge.
It was only a brief respite though and a rejuvenated Hibs doubled their lead a minute later.
Griffiths’ cut back from the left byeline found Eoin Doyle six yards out and, although Saints keeper Alan Mannus made a superb initial stop, Doyle was quickest to the loose ball to poke home the rebound.
Shell-shocked Saints tried to regroup and sent on new loan signing Pawlett to try and change the game’s direction of travel.
Tade had another great chance to reduce arrears just after the hour when Murray Davidson’s lob – following McPake’s error – sent him clear again, but Hibs keeper Williams did brilliantly to keep his shot out as the Frenchman went one-on-one.
Then, in 66 minutes, Craig’s free-kick was narrowly missed by Frazer Wright at the back post, before Saints skipper Mackay became the first player in the referee’s notebook two minutes later.
With 19 minutes remaining, a diving header from McPake from David Wother-spoon’s corner was inches away from extending Hibs’ advantage but fortunately for Saints the ball sailed wide of the post.
Wright then sent a header over the bar from Craig’s corner in 76 minutes, before Wotherspoon was booked for dissent four minutes later.
In 82 minutes, Tim Clancy beat the Saints defence to connect with Griffiths’ corner at the near post, but his header was off target, before Craig had a decent effort from 20 yards which forced Williams into a save down to his right four minutes later.
Hibs were content to try and see the game out from then on in, giving new signing Shefki Kuqi a run-out for the final few minutes.
There was still time though for Murray Davidson to be shown a yellow card in injury time for a sliding challenge on Deegan, and Pawlett to send a header from Vine’s cross goalwards, although it was directed straight at Williams.
Disappointed Saints boss Steve Lomas admitted it was a lack of cutting edge in the final third that cost his team.
”I thought the first 45 minutes we absolutely bossed it from start to finish and we were the only team in it,” he said.
”To lose a goal in the 44th minute from a set play is not ideal but to come out in the second half and give away another poor goal, that provides a mountain to climb.
”Obviously I’m disappointed with the result but I was delighted with the response from the Aberdeen game.
”Let’s be honest, in the first half Hibs were so second best it was frightening and they haven’t really done anything to merit a 2-0 lead but we need to look at ourselves and start cutting out the individual mistakes.”
Fenlon was content with his side’s second win on the trot. He concluded: ”It was a massive three points for us because you want to string a couple of good results together, so we want to build on that.
”St Johnstone started the game well and worked hard but we spoke about things at half-time and we had to get up the pitch and move up the gears a bit, which we did.”