St Johnstone stopped the rot in Steven MacLean’s first game in charge.
Wins for Kilmarnock and Dundee United have seen Saints get dragged to just two points above the play-off position.
But this was a much improved performance from recent matches and has given the Perth side a platform to attack their post-split fixtures.
Both goals in this 1-1 draw came in the first half – Stevie May’s opener cancelled out by a Lewis Stevenson equaliser.
For most of the second period, Saints were up against 10 men after James Jeggo’s straight red card but couldn’t find the winner their last quarter dominance deserved.
Key moments
Saints got exactly the start they wanted and a goal to show for it.
May doesn’t score many overhead kicks.
It was a sweet connection he made for the 25th minute opener when a half-cleared corner dropped for him.
But he was assisted by former Scotland keeper David Marshall letting it slip out of his grasp and in at his near post.
That Saints only held on to their lead for seven minutes would have been a huge frustration to MacLean, as would the fact that Hibs were able to break from midfield into their box a bit too easily.
Remi Matthews had no chance of keeping out Lewis Stevenson’s shot from just inside the box.
Saints pushed and pushed for a winner in the closing stages, with Marshall back to his best in denying Drey Wright, May and Melker Hallberg.
In stoppage time Andy Considine was inches away from connecting with a May shot that was drilled across the face of goal.
Saints’ star man – Stevie May
It wasn’t a winning goal but it was one that earned his team a point.
Time will tell how precious that goal and point turns out to be.
May isn’t a natural leader of the line but his trademark non-stop running was invaluable as always.
Player ratings
Matthews 6, McGowan 7, Gordon 7, Considine 7, Montgomery 7, Phillips 6 (Carey 4), MacPherson 7, Wotherspoon 6 (Hallberg 5), Wright 6, May 7, McLennan 6 (Murphy 6).
Manager under the microscope
MacLean made two changes to starting line-up at Livingston and stuck with a back four.
In came Considine and David Wotherspoon and out went Hallberg and Jamie Murphy.
The 4-3-3 served Saints well in the early stages when they enjoyed plenty of possession and territory.
MacLean’s substitutions made sense – and made a difference.
This was a good first day in a new job.
Man in the middle
Craig Napier handled a first half touchline flashpoint well when Connor McLennan and CJ Egan-Riley clattered into each other, leaving the latter on the turf.
No cards were shown and the two managers were brought together for a quiet word after they’d got themselves involved.
Napier had a much busier – and more controversial – second half, though.
He went straight for his red card to send off James Jeggo after he made a sliding challenge on McLennan.
VAR official, Chris Graham, backed him up.
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