A late goal from substitute Farid El Alagui secured a valuable point at the Paisley 2021 Stadium this afternoon, and ended Hibs’ four game losing streak in the Championship.
With two minutes remaining, Hibs were losing whilst Falkirk were winning away to Queen of the South and had these score-lines remained, the Bairns would have gone nine points clear however El Alagui’s strike coupled with a late equaliser from the Doonhamers ensured that no ground was lost in the race for second place.
Hibs now sit six points behind Falkirk with three games in hand.
Head Coach Alan Stubbs made two changes to the starting XI that lost to Raith Rovers two weeks ago. Paul Hanlon returned from injury to replace Liam Fontaine who missed out with a thigh knock and Liam Henderson returned from suspension to replace James Keatings who also failed to make the squad with a back problem.
John McGinn who won the man of the match award on his Scotland debut and Jason Cummings who scored twice for the Under 21s both started the game.
Hibs almost took the lead in the 17th minute when Stokes found Marvin Bartley and the midfielder surged into the area before firing the ball across the face of the goal. Cummings lunged at the ball but was unable to make contact and David Gray managed to get his foot to the ball at the back post however he was unable to direct it goalwards.
Ten minutes later Hibs did grab the opener after Cummings beat the offside trap and latched onto a superb through ball from McGinn before sending a composed finish past Langfield from six yards, much to the delight of the travelling support.
The Saints equalised in the 35th minute in controversial circumstances.
A long throw into the area was flicked on into the path of Rocco Quinn who appeared to be well offside but no flag was raised and the striker was able to steer the ball into the net. The Hibs’ players protested whilst Stubbs and John Doolan approached the linesman Dougie Potter to question his decision,however the goal was allowed to stand.
Moments later Alex Cooper was shown a yellow card for a bad challenge on Martin Boyle.
At half time Stubbs again tried to speak to Potter but the linesman ignored him and ran down the tunnel.
Hibs started the second half brightly and Lewis Stevenson went close with a long range strike however it was St Mirren who took the lead against the run of play. A chipped ball was flicked on by Gallagher into the path of Lawrence Shankland who fired the ball past Mark Oxley from close range.
Chris Dagnall replaced Boyle on the hour mark as Stubbs went with three up front in an effort to get back into the game.
Shankland almost wrapped things up in the 69th minute with a powerful strike which flew narrowly past the post then had another effort which was well saved by Oxley.
With 15 minutes remaining El Alagui replaced Marvin Bartley and immediately Anthony Stokes almost equalised with a powerful strike which Langfield managed to hold.
The Saints’ keeper then spilled a Stokes’ strike from the edge of the area but he was able to clear the ball before Cummings and El Alagui were able to pounce.
Henderson and Gray were both booked in the latter stages as Hibs fought to get back on level terms and they eventually grabbed a deserved equaliser with two minutes remaining. a long ball was controlled by stoked who scooped it into the path of El Alagui and the striker fired the ball into the net from the edge of the area.
Hibs now face Livingston at Easter Road on Tuesday night.
St Mirren: Langfield, Irvine, Watson, Gallagher, Quinn, Mallan, Carswell, Webster, Baird, Shankland, Cooper. Subs: Wilson, Thompson, Goodwin, Gow, Agnew, Stewart, Morgan
Hibs: Oxley, Gray, McGregor, Hanlon, Stevenson, Bartley, McGinn, Henderson, Boyle, Stokes, Cummings. Subs: Virtanen, Gunarsson, Donaldson, Thomson, Handling, El Alagui, Dagnall
Referee Craig Charleston
Attendance 3795
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
