Stevie May’s acrobatics against 10-man Hibs were not enough to pull St Johnstone further away from relegation playoff worries.
The ninth-placed Perth side, despite picking up a point in Steven MacLean’s first game as interim boss, edged slightly closer to second-from-bottom.
That was due to both Kilmarnock and Dundee United winning. They both sit two points back.
May had given Saints the advantage at McDiarmid Park with a clever overhead kick before Lewis Stevenson levelled just after the half hour mark.
James Jeggo was ordered off for Hibs early in the second half but there was no further breakthrough
Interim manager MacLean would have been relatively pleased with a start to the game which had seen Drey Wright force a smart low stop out of visiting goalkeeper David Marshall.
He would be delighted when, with 25 minutes on the clock, May capitalised on a looping ball to give Saints the lead with an acrobatic overhead kick.
It was a lovely piece of work by the homegrown Perth forward, although Marshall will feel he should have done better to keep it out.
Not long after, Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet attempted similar heroics but his effort was never in danger of beating Remi Matthews.
Matthews, however, was picking the ball out of his net in the 32nd minute when Stevenson’s effort across goal nestled in the bottom corner.
Much remained on the line heading into the second half and Wright quickly broke upfield before forcing a save out of Marshall.
Home supporters received a further lift when Jeggo was shown a straight red card by referee Craig Napier on 48 minutes for a challenge on Connor McLennan.
May attempted to capitalise immediately by bundling over the line at the back post but was denied then, later, substitute Melker Hallberg’s cushioned effort from McLennan’s cross was saved.
Hallberg almost clinched three points with a late header but again Marshall moved quickly to push the ball around the post.
And then May’s cross was inches from the toe of Andy Considine at the back post. It would finish all square.
