Hibs moved back into third place thanks to a tremendous 3-0 victory over League Cup finalists St Mirren at the SMISA Stadium in Paisley.
Head coach David Gray made three changes from last week’s draw with Livingston.
The Cadden brothers both starred in place of Miguel Chaiwa and Jordan Obita whilst Kieron Bowie replaced Thibault Klidjé up front.
Warren O’Hora returned to the bench after recovering from a shoulder injury but there was no place for Joe Newell.
St Mirren made two changes to the side that started the League Cup semi-final last weekend.
Richard King replaced the suspended Alex Gogic while Mark O’Hara was replaced by Liam Donnelly.
Goalkeeper Shamal George, who was a fitness doubt, made the starting XI.
A minute’s silence was held ahead of kick off but was cut short after being disrupted by a few in the away end. Many Hibs fans immediately took to social media to call for bans for those involved.
In the opening minute Dan Nlundulu clattered into Rocky Bushiri before falling to the ground himself and he required treatment.
Martin Boyle then sent a teasing ball across the St Mirren goal that just evaded the feet of Bowie.
At the other end Bushiri did well to head behind a dangerous St Mirren cross. From the resultant corner Saints thought they took the lead when Marcus Fraser nodded home at the front post but after a VAR check the goal was ruled out for offside.
Josh Mulligan tried his luck from distance but his effort flew over the bar.
Nicky Cadden’s free-kick found Boyle at the back post but his shot went straight into the gloves of George.
Mulligan then tried his luck from the edge of the area but his effort was blocked.
Hibs took the lead in the 26th minute thanks to a gift from the hosts. George’s clearance was intercepted by Jamie McGrath who sent a wonderful pass into the box for Mulligan to run onto and smash beyond the keeper to the delight of the travelling fans.
Keanu Baccus was booked for a foul on Chris Cadden.
St Mirren looked to get back in the game and Raphael Sallinger did well to punch away a dangerous free-kick.
At the other end Fraser did well to stop Chris Cadden getting on the end of a Boyle cross.
St Mirren won several free-kicks which were all sent into the box but dealt with by the Hibs defenders.
Just before the break Killian Phillips drilled a powerful strike towards the Hibs goal but Sallinger did well to turn it behind for a corner. The delivery was good and Sallinger has to get low to parry the ball away before Bushiri cleared.
The Saints thought they had equalised immediately after the restart when Dan Nlundulu turned under pressure from Jack Iredale, and smashed the ball into the back of the net
But once again the goal was ruled out by VAR much to the relief of the Hibs fans.
Then moments later Hibs doubled their lead when Nicky Cadden’s cross from the left was volleyed in by his twin brother Chris. After yet another lengthy VAR check the goal was given.
Richard King was booked for pulling back Bowie as Hibs looked for a third.
Conor McMenamin and Roland Idowu replaced Jayden Richardson and Liam Donnelly for the home side.
Sallinger did well to punch away a St Mirren free-kick as Mikael Mandron went down in the box amid half-hearted penalty shouts but the referee wasn’t interested.
With 20-minutes remaining David Gray made a double change with Boyle and McGrath making way for Klidje and Josh Campbell.
Sallinger did well to keep out Mandron as the hosts piled the pressure on as Hibs looked dangerous on the break.
Grant Hanley teed up Nicky Cadden on the right before the cross was bundled by King into the arms of goalkeeper George.
Mandron was replaced by Jonah Ayunga by Stephen Robinson.
Roland Idowu sent a ball into the box, which Nicky Cadden cleared.
Declan John was shown a yellow card for a foul on Mulligan.
With 12-minutes remaining Chaiwa replaced Dan Barlaser.
And within a minute the substitution paid off. A Nicky Cadden corner goes fell to Campbell who cuts the ball back for Chaiwa.
The midfielder smashed the ball goalwards, and it flew into the net after taking a deflection off Marcus Fraser’s head.
Iredale required treatment for an ankle knock cutting out a dangerous cross.
Hibs continued to press forward to add to their tally but in the end three was enough to secure their first victory over St Mirren for over two years.
St Mirren: George, Fraser, King, Freckleton, Richardson, Phillips, Baccus, Donnelly, John, Nlundulu, Mandron.
Substitutes: Mullen, Tanser, Taylor, McMenamin, Idowu, Dijksteel, Calvin, Ayunga, Mooney.
Hibs: Sallinger, Hanley, Bowie, Boyle, C. Cadden, Iredale, McGrath, N. Cadden, Mulligan, Barlaser, Rocky.
Substitutes: Smith, O’Hora, Youan, Chaiwa, Klidje, Obita, Hoilett, Megwa, Campbell.
Attendance 7116
