St Mirren picked up another point in the William Hill Premiership following a 1-1 draw away to Hibernian.
Miguel Freckleton's first Saints goal gave us the lead just after the hour mark. But Hibs drew level nine minutes later to take a share of the spoils heading into the international break. It means Saints are unbeaten in their last four matches and have only lost one of their last 15 in all competitions.
St Mirren named an unchanged team for the third straight game with Jonah Ayunga fit to start despite missing a large portion of training this week. The hosts made five changes after their UEFA Conference League exit to Legia Warsaw on Thursday night. Warren O’Hora, Jordan Obita, Josh Mulligan, Jamie McGrath and the in-form Kieron Bowie made way for Grant Hanley, Miguel Chaiwa, Jack Iredale, Thibault Klidje and Junior Hoilett.
After an impressive season from Hibernian last year, St Mirren were the only Premiership side that they could not break down, with the Buddies winning the only match played between the two at Easter Road last season 2-1 thanks to a Conor McMenamin brace.
Saints form against the Hibees has been strong over the past two seasons with the Buddies having only lost one of their last eight encounters with Hibernian, winning three of their previous four visits at Easter Road.
It was St Mirren who started the brighter of the two with Ayunga combining with Jayden Richardson. This created a great chance for Ayunga whose low shot was pushed wide by Jordan Smith in the Hibernian net.
The hosts responded quickly, as Hoilett has his effort smash off the crossbar from less than 10 yards out. This should have given Hibs the lead, with Martin Boyle firing the rebound over the bar.
Hibs started to take control of the game. Nicky Cadden fizzed in a corner from the left hand side that was met by Boyle. His low driven shot was straight into the grasp of George.
The pressure from the hosts kept pilling up and it was yet again Nicky Cadden creating another glorious chance. His cross was beautifully whipped in from the right hand side. Bushiri’s header was well defended by Freckleton to go out for a goal kick.
St Mirren came back down the other end to relieve some pressure. After the ball bouncing around Ayunga and Mandron, Ayunga struck the ball over the bar from 25 yards out.
Veteran Hoilett nearly rolled back the years with a bit of magic. An in-swinging corner nearly found its way straight into the net, but George was alert and pushed it over.
Having already gone down in the 15th minute, Phillips was substituted off half way through the first-half for Richard King.
Dylan Levitt put a ball over the top that Boyle chased down. He got goal side of Freckleton and just when it looked like he had a clear shot at goal, Freckleton made a brilliant recovery block from behind.
Both teams started off the second-half with some slack and sloppy passes. This then lead to the first booking off the day, which came for Hibs after a late challenge on Keanu Baccus from Chaiwa on 57 minutes.
It wasn’t long after that before St Mirren took the lead. Declan John with an excellent delivery from the left-hand side was met in the middle of the box by Freckleton. It will not be the prettiest goal that he ever scores, but neither he nor his team will care too much. There was then a lengthy VAR check for a possible offside, but the goal stood and Freckleton got his first goal for the Saints.
Hibernian responded with a triple substitution with Bowie, Mulligan and McGrath replacing Boyle, Chris Cadden and Hoilett.
Nicky Cadden was proving to be a handful, as yet another cross was met by Bushiri but again, the Hibs defender was unable to find the back of the net.
St Mirren had a great chance to go two up on 66 minutes. Mark O’Hara put in a low cross from the left-hand side, it was met by Mandron, who couldn’t get the ball past Smith.
The hosts were pushing and got their equalizer just 10 minutes after falling behind. McGrath this time with the cross, was flicked on by Klidje and Bushiri finally put one in the back of the net to get his fourth goal of the season.
The crosses kept coming and Nicky Cadden was yet again the architect. Cadden whipped in another beauty of a cross. This time it hit of Mulligan and went straight at George.
The Buddies were close to taking the lead just 10 minutes before the end. A ball over the top found Richardson and he chipped Smith, who was in no mans land. Scotland international Grant Hanley was able to read the danger and clear the ball off the line.
Both teams then made substitutes with Mooney coming on for Ayunga for St Mirren and Obita replacing Iredale for the hosts.
Mulligan saw his shot lash wide left of George’s goal just before added time. Gogic was the booked after taking out Bowie in the lead up of a Hibs counter attack.
The referee then blew for full time but that was not the end of the match. There was a lengthy VAR check for a potential handball in the St Mirren box. The decision was no penalty and that was followed by a chorus of boos from the home fans.
St Mirren go into the international break just the two points behind Hibs, who remain in third.
Full-Time: Hibernian 1-1 St Mirren
St Mirren: George, Fraser, Gogic, Freckleton, Richardson, Phillips (King 27), Baccus, O'Hara (c), John, Mandron, Ayunga (Mooney 81)
Subs Not Used: Mullen, Sobowale, Tanser, Taylor, Idowu, Dijksteel, Calvin
Hibernian: Smith, Hanley, Bushiri, Iredale (Obita 81), N.Cadden, Chaiwa, Levitt, C.Cadden (McGrath 64), Hoilett (Mulligan 64), Klidje, Boyle (c) (Bowie 64)
Subs Not Used: Sallinger, O'Hora, Megwa, Campbell, Molotnikov
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Sean Duff
VAR: Ryan Lee
