Three first-half goals saw St Mirren earn a big win away to Hibernian in the cinch Premiership.
Alex Gogic, Greg Kiltie and Mikael Mandron all netted in a blistering first-half performance that saw Saints leave the capital with all three points.
Stephen Robinson made three changes as Caolan Boyd-Munce came in for the injured Mark O'Hara. James Scott came in for his first start, while Mandron also started with Lewis Jamieson and Jonah Ayunga on the bench.
Saints started fast with Greg Kiltie having an opportunity within the first 90 seconds that forced a low save from veteran Hibernian goalkeeper David Marshall.
The bright opening would be rewarded with Saints taking the lead on eight minutes. It came after a delightful dinked ball from Caolan Boyd-Munce found Gogic got in between two Hibs defenders to bullet home the header.
The Buddies controlled the first-half and would have a chance to double their lead on 34 minutes when referee Willie Collum awarded a penalty for a handball after Mandron's effort came off the hand Hibs defender Nectarios Triantis. Kiltie stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards as he slammed low into the middle of the net to make it 2-0.
Saints could have quickly made it 3-0 when Scott Tanser's wicked delivery was helped on by Scott to Elvis Bwomono at the back post. The wing-back was in acres of space but saw his shot blocked well by Marshall.
The Buddies would add a third before the interval with Mandron netting in the final minutes of normal time in the half. Boyd-Munce's corner floated all the way to the far post where Mandron on hand to sweep home from close range.
Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery made three changes at the break as Hibs looked to find a way back into the match. Dylan Levitt, Jair Tavares and Elie Youan were replaced by Dylan Vente, Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Eliezer Mayenda on. But it was Saints who had the first opportunity of the half when Bwomono dragged an effort wide on 48 minutes.
Stephen Robinson made his first change a little over 10 minutes into the second-half with Jamieson on for Scott. And the 21-year-old had a good opportunity to score within a minute of his introduction but lashed a volley over the bar. Jamieson was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet when a vital intervention saw him denied a tap-in on 63 minutes.
There wasn't too much in the way of work for either goalkeeper but it was still the Buddies who looked the more likely to add to their tally. Boyd-Munce saw a powerful drive from 25 yards fly just wide as the match headed into its final 15 minutes. The midfielder almost scored directly from a corner in the final 10 minutes with Marshall having to push over.
The Buddies three first-half goals were enough to earn an important three points in our first away match of 2024.
Full-Time: Hibernian 0-3 St Mirren
St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton (Dunne 62), Gogic, Fraser (c), Bwomono (Brown 81), Kwon (Flynn 81), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Kiltie, Mandron (Olusanya 81), Scott (Jamieson 56)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Taylor, Penman, Ayunga
Hibernian: Marshall, Whittaker (Megwa 65), Triantis, Fish, Obita, Tavares (Moriah-Welsh 46), Newell, Maolida (Le Fondre 69), Marcondes, Levitt (Vente 46), Youan (Mayenda 46)
Subs Not Used: Wollacott, Cadden, Amos, Stevenson
Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Fourth Official: Colin Steven
VAR: Alan Muir
