Hibernian 2 - 0 St Johnstone: Hibs’ revival hoists them joint top of table

WHEN Eoin Doyle bundled in Hibernian’s second goal and the usual gaggle of celebrating team-mates descended on the Irishman, it was fitting that two players whooped it up on their own away from the throng.

Recent signing Gary Deegan, who had sparked the move, and captain James McPake were hearty in their mutual back-slapping and they also deserved the appreciation of the thousands of supporters up in the stands.

The pair symbolise the revitalised side being pieced together by Pat Fenlon. It has been a long time since the Easter Road team have had the protection of a midfield enforcer and a centre-half with such a resolute thou-shalt-not-pass attitude. With a reinforced spine, the men in green and white are gaining strength with every week and Deegan and McPake’s toughness of character appears to be spreading.

For the majority of the opening half this was promising to be a familiar tale involving these two teams. Hibs began sluggishly and St Johnstone sensed an opportunity. Pressing their hosts hard they controlled possession and the flow of the game, but frustratingly could not turn their domination into anything tangible.

It is early days but that Hibs were able to go into the break a goal to the good was a sound indication that the soft underbelly that has characterised the last couple of seasons may be a thing of the past. The defending was no-nonsense, with Paul Hanlon throwing himself in front of an early barrage and McPake producing one incredible last-ditch challenge on the dithering Gregory Tade, whilst in front Deegan and the impressive Jorge Claros provided an extra shield.

When, on the stroke of half-time, Paul Hanlon nodded in Leigh Griffiths’ corner, despite Callum Davidson’s best efforts to clear off the line, the goal came very much out of the blue, but was as much a sign of the home side’s stoicism as the attacking flair that had characterised their interval lead seven days previously at St Mirren.

“The whole team’s working together as a unit,” said Deegan. “I think Pat has put that into us, it’s a team game and we all work together. There’s no individuals, we work hard together, we do everything together and I think that showed.”

There was no doubting St Johnstone’s togetherness. Desperately poor against Aberdeen the previous week, they should never have been in arrears at half-time, but when they fell two goals behind shortly after the break they had themselves to blame.

Patrick Cregg, a former Hibs player, gave away possession on the edge of the box and the home side’s response was clinical. Deegan threaded a ball through for Griffiths, whose cutback from the bye-line picked out Doyle. Alan Mannus somehow saved the striker’s first effort but the Irishman successfully bundled in the rebound.

Visibly more confident, Hibs were fairly comfortable thereafter and, with a trip to Celtic next up in the league, Deegan is convinced the horrors of last season’s relegation battle and the nadir of the Scottish Cup final hammering from city foes Hearts are firmly in the past.

“Things are changing here and for the best,” he added. “Even going to Celtic next week, I can guarantee that everyone in that dressing-room will be going there thinking we can win. That’s what Pat has brought to us, a winning mentality. We’re not going in thinking we’re going to draw games or lose games, we’re going in thinking we’re going to win.

“We’ve got off to the right start. I’m not jumping to any conclusions, it’s only four games, but if we can continue what we’re doing and building on it then I can’t see any reason why we can’t be up there. Do I think it will be another relegation battle? No, no chance, definitely not. I just think it’s a different place this year.”

The otherwise exemplary McPake blotted his copybook with a second-half slip, misjudging Murray Davidson’s lob to allow Tade a second free run 
on goal. The Frenchman never looked at ease with the opportunity and 
Hibs keeper Ben Williams blocked to deny the Perth outfit the prospect of a comeback.

“I should have had at least one,” said Tade. “I should have pulled the trigger early on in the first-half, put the ball on my left foot and shot, and I didn’t. In the second-half, I pulled the trigger but probably this time I should have gone round the keeper. It was a good save but I should have done better.”

That is a mantra that has summed up Hibs for some time now. They failed to go three games undefeated in the league last season and had to wait until the penultimate match of the campaign to put together back-to-back league victories. It is too early to tell if the corner has been turned but, with Queen of the South to face tomorrow evening in the Scottish Communities League Cup, the signs are at least encouraging.