St Johnstone’s resurgence under Craig Levein is gathering serious momentum.
The Perth posted their third win under their new boss – all of them 1-0 and all of them in front of home fans who must now be thinking that Premiership safety is looking ever more likely.
There was no question Saints deserved this victory, which was achieved thanks to a second half Graham Carey strike.
They were by far the better team against Hibs, who couldn’t even muster a shot on target.
Levein’s men are now up to eighth in the table as they head into a run of away fixtures.
Hibs came into this game on a run of four wins out of five but Saints did a good job of matching them in the early stages.
The first chance of the game was a home one, when DJ Jaiyesimi got his head to a Fran Franczak cross and the on-loan Charlton forward’s effort just missed the near post.
It was the 16-year-old’s first start for Saints but at right wing-back rather than his familiar role in midfield.
The big talking point of the first half was a disallowed goal scored by the hosts nearly half an hour into it.
Max Kucheriavyi got his head to a Matt Smith corner but the assistant referee raised his flag as the ball crossed the line.
The on-pitch decision that Jaiyesimi (marginally offside) was impeding David Marshall as the deflected header went past the Hibs goalie was backed up by VAR official, Nick Walsh.
Early second half chances
The visitors lifted the tempo as the second half got underway and after Franczak had fouled Jair Tavares, Martin Boyle’s free-kick narrowly missed Dimitar Mitov’s top corner.
Kucheriavyi was denied twice by Marshall within the space of a minute – first after being set-up by Jaiyesimi and then with a glorious opportunity at the back post from a Tony Gallacher cross.
Thankfully for him and Saints, the opening goal soon followed.
Dylan Levitt played a pass out of defence straight to Carey, who took full advantage by beating Marshall from 20 yards on the angle.
A one-goal lead would have become two on 62 minutes but for a full-stretch Marshall save to keep out a Franczak header.
Dylan Vente was shown a red card late in the contest for catching Liam Gordon with a high foot but referee Graham Grainger downgraded it to a yellow after VAR intervention.
Saints saw out eight minutes of injury time pretty comfortably for a thoroughly deserved victory.
Player ratings
St Johnstone – Mitov 6, Gallacher 7, McGowan 7, Gordon 7, Carey 7.5, Jaiyesimi 6.5 (Kane, 72) Kucheriavyi 6.5 (Sprangler, 90), Robinson 7, Smith 8, Phillips 7.5, Franczak 7.5 (Considine, 84). Subs not used – Richards, Brown, May, Clark, Turner-Cooke, Costelloe.
Star man – Matt Smith
Hibs are renowned for their creativity in midfield but they didn’t have any better players in that part of the pitch than Saints’ Welsh international.
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