St Mirren 1 - 1 Hibernian: Lightning strike from Riordan

Published on Saturday 21 November 2009 21:15

WHILE Scotland seem to think that they can do without Derek Riordan, Hibernian aren't so stubborn. Had it not been for the club's most fickle of strikers, whose inspired first-half goal was on everyone's lips later, they would have returned from Paisley with nothing yesterday. They had little else to offer on a storm-tossed Renfrewshire afternoon, and neither did he.

That, though, is the Riordan conundrum. With someone else in his position, a team might play better, work better, have more possession than their opponents, but would it mean more points? George Burley, the sacked national coach, didn't seem to think so, giving him only 16 minutes against Japan, and 12 against Wales.

What cannot be disputed was the quality,and importance, of his goal here, a spectacular right-foot thump that left goalkeeper Paul Gallacher with no chance. "He doesn't just hit it sweet, he gets all kinds of movement on the ball," said the Hibs manager, John Hughes,

whose team haven't won in Paisley for more than a decade. What galled St Mirren was that they had been all over them before Riordan's goal, and weren't so bad after it, equalising on the stroke of half-time through a header by Chris Innes. "It's two points dropped, quite clearly," said their manager Gus MacPherson. "We had good chances, not half chances, and then Riordan pops up with the kind of thing we know he is capable of. It's frustrating."

The upshot is that they have dented Hibs' hopes of splitting the Old Firm, a task of which Dundee United look much more capable. Hughes' team haven't been beaten in any of their last eight SPL matches, but if they are serious about becoming a force on the fringes of the title race, these are the kind of games they will have to win.

Given the momentum his team appeared to have been gathering, Hughes' decision to make a fewchanges came as a surprise. Chris Hogg and Lewis Stevenson were the full-backs, Ian Murray a centre-half and Benji the support man for Anthony Stokes. They never quite came to grips with their opponents, for whom Billy Mehmet was a regular threat. The big St Mirren striker is quite a handful, in the air and on the ground, where he repeatedly stretched Hibs'back four. Quite apartfroma right foot volley that he hooked over the top, he was behind the home side's best move of the game. From wide on the right, he slipped the ball neatly to Jack Ross, who in turn picked out Steven Thomson. The midfielder's side-footed effort came back off the goalkeeper's legs.

In rather a disturbing opening period for the visitors, St Mirren's chances came thick and fast. Stephen McGinn's curling shot was tipped round the post by Graham Stack before Andy Dorman capitalised on midfield hesitation to home in on goal. With only the goalkeeper to beat, he slapped the ball wide.

Add to that a couple of penalty claims for handball, and Hibs could count themselves fortunate to be level after 27 minutes, never mind ahead after 28. They, and Riordan in particular, had done nothing until then, but we have all heard that one before. Body language isn't the striker's most endearing trait, as he drifts about the left flank, but he is capable of announcing his presence in the most dramatic fashion.Andso it was when Liam Miller sent an innocuous crossfield pass in his direction. After teeing it up some ten yards outside the box, Riordan swung a contemptuous right boot at the ball, which took off and

dipped beyond the flailing goalkeeper.

Hibs were soon under the cosh again, and couldn't see out the half unscathed. Deep into time added on, Jack Ross hurled a hopeful free-kick into the penalty area, where Innes directed a header into the top right-hand corner.

Rain had fallen steadily all afternoon, but when the teams emerged for the second half, it had escalated into a howling storm, which made the game unrecognisable from its former self. Torrents of the stuff were blown at Hibs fans in the away end, and the ball too was sucked relentlessly towards St Mirren's goal. At times, Gallacher was struggling to kick it past his back four, and Hibs substitute John Rankin, he of the famous squiggler, was trying his luck almost from the centre circle.

Hibs, though, could make nothing of the advantage, and it was St Mirren who continued to look the likelier, first when Hugh Murray pulled a low effort wide, then when Mehmet couldn't keep his shot down. In the closing stages, Thomson was guilty of the same offence. How they must

yearn for a Riordan in their ranks.

MAN OF THE MATCH

The Hibernian goalkeeper, Graham Stack, was flawless in awful conditions for players and spectators.

Had it not been for his efforts, St Mirren might have buried their opponents in an opening half an hour when they were in the ascendancy.

QUICK FACT

That Hibs haven't won in Paisley for more than a decade says much about where their problems lie.

TALKING POINT

Two rejected penalty claims in the first half, both for handball, added to St Mirren's frustration during a period which they dominated.