Two more for O’Connor as Hibs hold on to lead at last

A FIRST home SPL win for Hibernian since beating Inverness 2-0 in February, a first away defeat of the campaign for St Johnstone – and a pacy, action-packed 90 minutes of entertainment for the crowd.

STUART BATHGATE

at EASTER ROAD

Hibernian3

Sproule 17, O’Connor 37, 63 pen

St Johnstone2

Craig 19, Sheridan 88

Referee: S Conroy

Attendance: 8,323

Hibs are now unbeaten in their last five games, including a League Cup win on penalties, but this was the first of the five they had won in normal time. They again had Garry O’Connor’s scoring prowess to thank, as the striker made the difference after Ivan Sproule’s opener had quickly been cancelled out by Liam Craig, and this time the defence, while still shaky, did not undo their forwards’ good work.

There was only one change to the St Johnstone team with Jody Morris’s return to the midfield meaning Willie Gibson dropped out of the line-up which had begun Sunday’s home win over Hearts. Colin Calderwood, too, made just one change to the Hibs side which started against Dundee United on Saturday, Sproule coming in for David Wotherspoon, as he had done for the second half of that 3-3 draw. Sproule had the first goal attempt, cutting in from the left then seeing his low, bouncing shot blocked. The second came barely a minute later, as Junior Agogo turned Steven Anderson, but shot too straight, allowing Peter Enckelman to tip over his crossbar. The same two Hibs players then combined with O’Connor to produce the opening goal. Agogo played a one-two with his fellow striker through the middle and a moment of hesitation on receiving the return pass looked like ending the move.

Instead, Agogo glanced up and slid a ball to Sproule on the left, and this time the Northern Irishman made a clean contact, firing home from six yards out.

It was the first away goal St Johnstone had conceded in the league this season, and one which stung them into action.

It is no secret that Hibs have often been at their most susceptible in recent games immediately after taking the lead, and that was certainly the case here as they found themselves pegged back just two minutes later.

Dave Mackay did the damage with an overlap down the right, and got the better of Sproule before crossing deep to the far side of the six-yard box. Liam Craig was afforded too much space by Sean O’Hanlon, he equalised with a right-foot volley.

Hibs could easily have gone behind when Francisco Sandaza twisted his way past O’Hanlon on the left of the box. The Spaniard got the better of keeper Graham Stack, too, with his delicately placed shot, but it rolled inches past the far post.

In the latter stages of the half it became an entertaining encounter in which both teams threw everything into attack. The contest was so open that the next goal could have come at either end, but with nine minutes to go in the half it was Enckelman who was beaten for the second time. A high ball to the edge of the box was chested down by Agogo into the path of O’Connor who, after a deft touch, scored his ninth of the season – and his fifth in his last four games – with a left-foot shot.

Further goals seemed certain in the second half as long as both sides continued to play with such commitment to attack – and so little apparent concern for the rudiments of defending.

Hibs tried to tighten up after the break as they aimed to preserve their lead and the introduction of Martin Scott for Leigh Griffiths gave them more solidity. They soon grew bored with that patient approach, however, and, after a tentative ten minutes, the match became as endearingly frenetic as it had been in the first half.

Chris Millar came close to equalising on the hour with a 25-yard shot which curled wide of the right post, but, within a minute of that let-off, Hibs went two up from the penalty spot. The award was soft – David McCracken appeared only to stand still as O’Connor tripped over him – but the kick itself was anything but, as O’Connor blasted past the helpless Enckelman.

The last time Hibs held a two-goal lead – at Dunfermline – they surrendered it tamely. But the confidence shown by their strikers is beginning to have an effect on the rest of the team, and they were able to maintain their two-goal advantage until just a couple of minutes from time. They had an anxious few minutes after Cillian Sheridan pulled one back with a low, curling shot after an Enckelman clearance evaded the defence, but did just about enough to deserve the victory.

Hibernian: Stack, Towell, O’Hanlon, Hanlon, Murray, Sproule (Stevenson 71), Palsson, Osbourne, Griffiths (Scott 54), Agogo, O’Connor (Sodje 79). Subs not used: Brown, Booth, Stephens, Wotherspoon.

St Johnstone: Enckelman, Maybury (Gibson 64), Mackay, Anderson, McCracken (Haber 86), Millar, Morris, Moon (Robertson 82), Craig, Sandaza, Sheridan. Subs not used: Mannus, Durnan, May, Caddis.