ST MIRREN’S long unbeaten home record came to an end as a brilliant second-half goal from Elie Youan saw Hibernian edge out the hitherto soaring Saints at The SMiSA Stadium.
Here are five talking points from a blustery afternoon in Paisley…
ELIE YOUAN EASES PAIN OF KEVIN NISBET’S ABSENCE
The hamstring injury that Hibs’s star man picked up in the draw at Ross County during the week meant that the travelling fans were given a glimpse of what life would have been like had Nisbet accepted a move to Millwall, and for long spells, it wasn’t too pretty.
Elie Youan was deployed up top after getting the goal in Dingwall that secured Lee Johnson’s men a point, and he came close to repeating the feat here early on, drawing a fine low save from Trevor Carson as Hibs started the match in the ascendancy.
Indeed, the visitors enjoyed the best of the first half hour, but they lacked punch in the final third to get the reward for their decent build-up play.
A first-half injury to Harry McKirdy meant that Youan was joined in attack by new signing, USA international Matt Hoppe, but while he displayed some nice touches, he too struggled to cause the Saints backline too many issues.
Just as the game looked to be drifting towards a goalless draw though, Youan showed what he can do when he is left one-on-one with a defender, taking in a fine Ewan Henderson pass before skipping round Marcus Fraser and producing an improvised, prodded shot in off Carson's right-hand post to send the Hibees behind the goal wild.
It was a brilliant piece of play and a wonderful finish, lighting up a gloomy day in Paisley.
ST MIRREN MISSING JONAH AYUNGA
The news this week that Ayunga will miss the rest of the season came as a massive blow to St Mirren, given how effective his partnership with Curtis Main has been this season.
Without his partner in crime Main couldn’t quite pose the same threat, though he should have put Saints ahead after a horror mistake from Aiden McGeady put him in on goal. He almost had too much time to size up his finish before ballooning over the bar from the edge of the box.
He was joined though in the second half by new arrival Tony Watt, who will no doubt offer something different to the Saints attack in time, but struggled to make much of an impact on the day.
LEWIS STEVENSON MAKES 450th APPEARANCE
The Hibs stalwart has now made more league appearances for the club than anyone else, overtaking the record set by Arthur Duncan in the eighties, and he marked the occasion with a typical steady Eddie performance.
Stevenson has been hugely dependable for the Hibees over the years, and his experience came in handy here as he helped marshal his team through an awkward fixture in horrendous conditions.
Going by this showing there is still life in the veteran yet, while at the other end of the scale, CJ Egan-Riley on the right side had a very promising first start for the club.
JOE NEWELL INJURY A WORRY
Amid the euphoria for Hibs at the end of this match was one fly in the ointment in the form of another injury concern, this time around midfielder Joe Newell.
Newell had been terrific for the visitors for 70 minutes, helping them to edge the battle in the middle of the park by showing composure amid the frenzy and getting his foot on the ball. One cross-field pass he produced in the first half as he cut across the ball to send Aiden McGeady scarpering towards the box was a sight to behold.
Manager Johnson will hope he will be back sooner rather than later.
FEELGOOD FACTOR WILL CARRY ON IN PAISLEY
If the horrific weather didn’t deter the hardy locals from coming out and supporting their side here, then it is a fair bet that this narrow defeat won’t either.
The fine season Stephen Robinson’s men are having clearly catching the imagination of their fans, and while their performance here didn’t quite reach their recent levels and the match itself failed to live up to the pre-game intrigue, they will certainly forgive a rare home blip.
This was their first loss at The SMiSA Stadium since the opening day defeat to Motherwell 12 games ago, so Robinson’s men have plenty of credit in the North Bank.
