Hibernian 1-2 St Johnstone: Luck in the air as visitors come from behind

Published on Friday 29 April 2011 16:09

Hibernian 1-2 St Johnstone Sodje 23 Craig 73; Moon 90

THERE are times when being pooped on from a great height is actually fortuitous. Just ask St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes. None of his players had scored an SPL goal since 1 February but after grabbing a 73rd minute equaliser, his men continued to press and in the second minute of time added on they snatched the winner.

"With five minutes to go a seagull s*** on my shoulder," said McInnes, "and that is supposed to be lucky and we got our bit of luck after that so maybe that was a sign. But, to be fair, the players worked hard for that."

An amazing 1107 minutes had elapsed since that last goal and the celebrations in the visitors' technical area said it all. It was as much a relief as it was sheer joy. Fed up talking about that goal drought, it was a case of a weight being lifted off the shoulders, the confidence surging back.

Since that game against Hamilton on 1 February there have been a handful of goals in the cup and they did secure a 1-1 draw the last time they faced Colin Calderwood's team, but it was Hibs' Richie Towell who gifted them an own goal that day.

This time they conjured up two on their own and their reward was a sensational snatching of all three points, which left the home fans disgruntled and the small band of travelling supporters in a state of almost dizzy disbelief.

"It's been a disappointing run we have been on and I have sensed some real frustration and it hasn't reflected well on any of us, the fact that we have struggled to score goals. But to get a win along with the goals was satisfying. As ridiculous as it may seem, I felt we had another goal in us. Once the first goal went in, physically, you could see the difference in the players and I don't think we should ever underestimate the ingredient of confidence for any sportsperson."

This game was an end of season affair which lacked much meaning but for the fact that it was played on the day that an integral part of the club's history, former player and manager Eddie Turnbull, passed away. One of the Famous Five, a band of dazzling forwards forever sewn into the tapestry of the Leith side.

In their place is a modern day side with a mere sliver of the flair that quintet possessed and only a modicum of the character and nous but against a side who had their own issues they must have considered that victory was in their grasp when they took a first half lead, thanks to Akpo Sodje, nabbing his fourth goal in four games in the 23rd minute.

It was a good finish from the Hibs striker, who sliced through the St Johnstone centre-half pairing as he took delivery of a Paul Hanlon long-ball and then lifted it over the advancing Peter Enckleman. In a game of few chances, he made his count.

There was little other than that strike between the teams in the first half and although St Johnstone had made overtures, there was still an anxiety in their play with their own manager admitting they had played within themselves, while Calderwood stated his team were lucky to hold an advantage at the interval.

"I said to them at half time that we had to stop accepting poor performances and poor results and bad luck," said McInnes.

"I think sometimes the players can forget how good they are and I told them that not one of them was playing at the level they could but they showed more of their ability in the second half and the determination was also there."

The equaliser arrived in the 73rd minute, Danny Grainger's delivery finding substitute Liam Craig and he finished it off. In the technical area the relief was tangible, on the pitch it was sheer euphoria. If the Saints players grew in stature after that Hibs floundered. They couldn't see things out and infuriated their manager with their lack of savvy as the game moved into stoppage time.

Peter MacDonald had already had his close range effort blocked by David Stephens and Graham Gartland came close with a header before Craig played the ball back across goal for Kevin Moon to pounce in the area. It was a long time coming but the goals meant almost as much as the win.

HIBERNIAN

Divis

Towell

Dickoh

Stephens

Hanlon

Vaz Te

Scott (77)

Palsson

Stevenson

Booth (88)

Sodje (69)

Subs used

Wotherspoon (69)

Galbraith (77)

Riordan (88)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Kevin Moon (St Johnstone)

A great shift in midfield, kept pressing and was rewarded with the winner.

TALKING POINT

Finally, St Johnstone got an SPL goal - their first since February.

Referee: C Allan. Attendance: 7,492

ST JOHNSTONE

Enckleman

Maybury

Adams

Mackay

Grainger

Millar

Moon

Davidson (69)

Invincibile (62)

Jackson

MacDonald (88)

Subs used

Craig (62)

Gartland (69)

Robertson (88)