The story of how Paul McGinn secured Hibs' draw with St Johnstone

Hibs manager Jack Ross chose to stay loyal to the players who had walked off the park on Saturday feeling aggrieved not to have taken all three points against Celtic for Tuesday’s clash with St Johnstone.

Hibs defender Paul McGinn scores to make it 2-2 against St Johnstone. Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group

While there had been disappointment and frustration that they had not been able to hold onto the two-goal advantage, Ross said he has been happy with long spells of their performance that day.

It meant sticking with the 4-1-4-1 formation despite Christian Doidge’s return to fitness following a minor ankle sprain and, while that system served them well against a Celtic side who were less in your face and seemed to be content to sit off the Leith backline, it was tested by an industrious Saints side who preferred to squeeze a lacklustre-looking Hibs high up the pitch, earning a 2-2 draw.

That forced the Hibs defence to launch clearances up field rather than initiate a cohesive and composed advance and, marshalled by the attentive and commanding Jamie McCart, Liam Gordon and Shaun Rooney, it was a big ask to expect Kevin Nisbet, in the lone striker role, to win those balls and make the ball stick as he waited for support.

They did find a way through, in the 35th minute when Paul McGinn was rewarded for a determined drive forward from his right-back berth and, benefiting from a neat Nisbet assist, he completed his run with an assured finish, passing the ball low into the net.

For a guy who has averaged a goal a season throughout his career, it was a finish full of panache. On a night when more recognisable scorers were screwing efforts wide or sending them over the bar, his clinical effort was well appreciated by his colleagues. And there was more to come.

Biting back

It had the necessary response from the Easter Road side who had gone a goal behind a minute earlier but knew they needed at least a point to leapfrog Aberdeen and move back into third place.

Paul Hanlon had already gone off injured and the breakthrough had come when a Scott Tanser delivery into the area was not dealt with by Ryan Porteous or Darren McGregor and Stevie May showed the desire to stick a boot out and prod the ball on for Ali McCann to finish.

The Hibs response showed character from Ross’ men against a side who have been tough opponents in recent times. There have now been five draws in 11 meetings, with only one of the remaining head to heads serving up a win margin of more than one goal.

Hibs had spells in control but, like their guests, they struggled to really test the keeper.

It was only a matter of time before Doidge would enter the fray and and he did, with Ross sacrificing defensive cover Alex Gogic in the middle of the park.

It gave Hibs a more offensive look and they responded by applying pressure. But, again, it was the Perth side who edged ahead. This time it was former Hibs player David Wotherspoon who got the 76th minute goal.

McGinn, though refused to be beaten and, with 82 minutes gone, he got himself forward and added to his tally, to become the evening’s unlikely goal hero and elevate Hibs into third on goal difference.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.