Hibs Finish Third After St Mirren Point
A 2-2 draw with St Mirren at the SMiSA Stadium sealed third place for David Gray’s Hibernian FC side in the 2024/25 William Hill Premiership table.
The Hibees had an electric start to the game and took the lead through Martin Boyle after just two minutes. A smart finish by Mykola Kuharevich gave us a two-goal lead, before the hosts pilled on the pressure.
That paid off as Richard Taylor scored on the stroke of half-time and Conor McMenamin equalised midway through the second half. Both goals were incredibly tight but deemed on-side after VAR review.
Chances fell to both sides at the very end, but the game ended all square. With Aberdeen losing to Celtic, a point was good enough for Hibs to seal third place.
David Gray made two changes from the side that were beaten by Celtic just four days prior. Junior Hoilett and Lewis Miller returned to the starting line-up in place of Josh Campbell and Warren O’Hora.
Coming into the game Hibs knew that three points would all but secure a third-place finish in the William Hill Premiership, and they got off to a magnificent start, taking the lead after just two minutes!
Martin Boyle received the ball just inside the area from Junior Hoilett, cut inside of his man before trying to curl an effort into the bottom corner. His placed effort took a deflection on the way through, and crept past Zach Hemming in the St Mirren net. His 98th goal in a Hibs jersey.
Immediately after the goal, Boyle and his teammates ran straight to the coaching staff to celebrate in the technical area.
Just three minutes later, Boyle thought he’d doubled his tally and Hibs’ lead, only to be denied by the offside flag. Again, he latched onto a through ball by Hoilett, but this time, he chipped the ball over the on-rushing ‘keeper before tapping in from close range. After a lengthy VAR check, it was deemed the linesman’s decision was correct, and the goal was disallowed.
On the 10-minute mark, though, Hibs were two ahead! Hoilett was again the provider. The Canadian international received the ball from Boyle down the left hand-side. He found Mykola Kuharevich in the area, who, on the turn, fired a left-footed effort past the goalkeeper for his second goal in three games.
A terrific start continued, Hibs buoyed from the early goals continued to create chances, and in the 18th minute should’ve had a third. This time Martin Boyle received the ball just inside the Buddies’ half, and drove towards goal. He out-paced the defender and got into the area, however, Hemming at full-stretch was equal to his low effort.
After a relentless opening 20 minutes from Hibs, the hosts grew into the game and created their first chances just after the half hour mark. Ryan Alebiosu swung a dangerous cross into the Hibs area and found Mikael Mandron free in the box, around six yards out. The striker’s header, though, was straight at Jordan Smith. Moments after a bouncing ball fell in the vicinity of Killian Phillips, just inside the box, but his acrobatic effort looped harmlessly over the bar.
With just five minutes to go before half-time, Hibs had a huge let off. Lewis Miller swung his left-foot at a cross aimed towards the back-post, the Australian international miscued his clearance towards his own net, but thankfully the ball just flew wide of Smith’s goal.
On the stroke of half-time, St Mirren pulled one back. Marcus Fraser headed a deep free-kick back across the face of goal, Richard Taylor was first to react, and fired a low effort past Smith.
Half-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Hibernian
Hibs started the second period on the ascendancy, looking to play forward and create opportunities. Martin Boyle dragged a right-footed effort wide from 20-yards out, and both Dylan Levitt and Junior Hoilett fired half-volleys harmlessly over from just outside the area within the opening 10 minutes of the half.
A minute after entering the pitch on the hour mark, Kieron Bowie almost made his mark. Hibs broke forward with pace through Martin Boyle. The Australian tried to sneak the ball through to Bowie, who made an excellent run through the middle, but the ball was just too far in-front of him.
Despite Hibs’ pressure, it was St Mirren who scored the next goal and equalised in the 64th minute. Roland Idowu got the better of Lewis Miller and whipped a ball across the face of goal, which was tapped in by Conor McMenamin. There was a lengthy VAR review, but the goal was awarded.
St Mirren thought they’d gone 3-2 ahead two minutes later when Mandron rolled the ball into the back of the net from outside the area. As the ball was heading in, though, the referee blew for a foul on Lewis Miller in the build-up, and the goal was disallowed.
The Buddies continued to push for a winner, and were denied in the 82nd minute by Jordan Smith. The Hibs ‘keeper did excellently to deny McMenamin’s left-footed effort from sneaking in at his near post.
Hibs were then saved by the woodwork in the 89th minute. McMenamin got round Jack Iredale before his low effort deflected off Rocky Bushiri onto the post.
In the dying moments of the game, Nectar Triantis almost won it for Hibs. He picked the ball up inside his own half, drove forward into the St Mirren box before his shot was blocked.
The game ended 2-2 and the point sealed third place for the Hibees, who will be playing European football next season!