Hibs 2 St Johnstone 0

Hibs claimed their first win of the new William Hill Premiership season with a deserved victory over St Johnstone at Easter Road.

After an even opening to the match, we eventually gained control and took a slender leader into the break thanks to Mykola Kuharevich’s close range effort.

If there was little between the sides in the first half, there certainly wasn’t after the break as we dominated and created several opportunities.

Substitute Martin Boyle scored the clincher with a stereotypical effort midway through the half as he used his pace to burst clear on the angle and score with a dinked finish.

A bad afternoon for the visitors was compounded in the dying moments when Benjamin Kimpioka was sent off for a terrible late challenge on Jordan Obita.

David Gray made three changes from our last outing against Kilmarnock as we returned to action following the international break. 

Lewis Miller and Boyle – both away with Australia a week prior to the game – dropped to the bench, whilst Hibs captain Joe Newell missed out through injury.

Chris Cadden, Nicky Cadden and Elie Youan all came into a starting XI that was led out by skipper for the day, Warren O’Hora.

The contest came too soon for new signing, Dwight Gayle, however Junior Hoilett was amongst the substitutes, hoping to make his long-awaited debut.

There were early opportunities for both sides as Nicky Cadden flashed an angled drive just wide of the far post before Nicky Clark forced a comfortable save from Josef Bursik with a rising effort at the other end.

St Johnstone boss Craig Levein opted for an early system change as he matched up to our 4-3-3 and it appeared to work for a while as the visitors enjoyed the better possession in more advanced areas.

They went onto have a good spell of pressure that saw them win a series of corner kicks which ended with Matthew Smith dragging a shot just wide from the edge of our box.

On the counterattack, we looked lively when moving the ball with pace and purpose, going close to opening the scoring when Kwon curled a low shot inches wide from 22-yards that a relieved Ross Sinclair could only watch as he was rooted to the spot.

We were limited to breaking quickly on the Saints and had another chance when the ball was fed up to Kuharevich and his powerful, low strike was deflected just wide by Kyle Cameron sliding in.

As the half progressed we were beginning to enjoy more control. We had further chances through a Nicky Cadden curler that was headed away at the back post and a Youan header that failed to trouble Sinclair in goal.

Just before half-time we had a great opportunity when Nectarios Triantis’ dink over the top of the St Johnstone defensive line released Chris Cadden but, with only the goalkeeper to beat, he was unable to control the ball and Sinclair gathered.

The deadlock was finally broken in the first of two added minutes when Nicky Cadden’s free-kick was nodded down by Marvin Ekpiteta and Kuharevich turned it home from close range.

During the interval, Youan was replaced by debutant Hoilett and the Canadian winger looked sharp on his first outing in green and white.

St Johnstone started the second period brightly, winning a couple of corner kicks that came to little, before fading as we again took control of the match.

Kwon shot high over the crossbar from a good position before Rudi Molotnikov ran onto a Hoilett lay off to bring out a fine save from Sinclair at his near post.

On the hour, we made a double change with Boyle and Josh Campbell replacing Molotnikov and Nicky Cadden. That also meant a position change of wings for Hoilett as he moved across to our left.

We were beginning to ramp up the pressure on the St Johnstone goal with Kuharevich twice going close in quick succession; firstly with a header that was just over and then with a powerful low drive that flashed just wide.

On 71 minutes, Sinclair had to race from his box to bravely clear at the feet of Kuharevich after Boyle looked to put him through as we countered a corner kick.

We would double our advantage just moments later when Chris Cadden fed Boyle down the right and he used his blistering pace to leave the defence for dead, draw Sinclair from goal and dink the ball over the goalkeeper to score.

Substitute Campbell was next to threaten as we sought to put the game to bed with a curling strike that Sinclair gathered at the second attempt.

The introductions of Hoilett and Boyle had given the visitors a new problem to deal with and they were unable to handle the pair.

With six minutes remaining, Boyle was a whisker away from a second goal as he drove across the edge of the Saints box before striking a shot on the turn that wrong-footed Sinclair only to flash just wide of the post.

The impressive Hoilett almost capped off a fantastic debut appearance with a goal in the closing stages however his drive and run ended with a shot that was just wide.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, St Johnstone were reduced to ten men when Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka was shown a straight red card for a terrible late challenge on Jordan Obita.

The Saints striker had twice earlier been spoken to by referee Nick Walsh for clashing with our players before he lost all composure and led with a reckless challenge that ended his afternoon.