St Mirren and Hibernian get set to face each other tomorrow afternoon in a Ladbrokes Championship fixture at Easter Road, the third meeting between the sides so far this season.
Tomorrow will be the second Championship encounter between the sides this season with the first one taking place back on 20th August when two goals from Jason Cummings at The Paisley 2021 Stadium turned out to be the difference on the day.
The sides last went head to head three weeks ago at Easter Road where Saints came back from a goal down to win 2-1 and book their place in the last eight of the IRN-BRU Cup. Alex Harris gave Hibs the lead but Stephen Mallan got Saints back on level terms as he rifled a direct free-kick into the back of the net just ahead of half-time. The game looked to be heading to extra-time but Lawrence Shankland set-up David Clarkson who went through and slipped the ball past Hibees keeper Ofir Marciano to win the tie.
Since then the Hibees have found their feet again after a goalless draw away to Raith Rovers and a 3-1 win last weekend at East End Park against Dunfermline thanks to an own goal from the Pars’ Nat Wedderburn, a penalty-kick from Grant Holt and a 90th minute finish from Brian Graham, all countering Kallum Higginbotham’s first half opener for the home side. The four points from these matches pushing the Leith side back up to the top of the Championship table.
Due to having no fixture last weekend as the match away to Morton was postponed as the Greenock side faced Aberdeen in the BetFred Cup semi-final, Saints last outing was two weeks ago against Dundee United for new manager Jack Ross’ first match in charge. Saints lost 2-0 to United but put on an improved performance which the new manager will be looking to build on.
You have to go back to 19th April 2014 for Saints last win against Hibs in league competition. The Scottish Premiership match at Paisley saw Saints run out 2-0 winners thanks to early strikes from Kenny McLean and Paul McGowan. And even though Jim Goodwin was red carded on the 30 minute mark Saints held on comfortably for the points.
You only have to go back a further three months (18th January 2014) for St Mirren’s last win at Easter Road on league business. An early own goal from Ben Williams along with strikes from Adam Campbell and Steven Thompson had Saints 3-0 up at half-time and looking as if they were cruising. But a second half brace from Jamie Collins had St Mirren sweating it out to hold on for maximum points which they managed to do.
Tomorrow’s match has huge significance for both sides. Hibs will ultimately be looking to consolidate their place on the top of the Championship, but from a St Mirren perspective Saints will go to Easter Road with a fair degree of confidence after their win there earlier this month but also knowing that they have to start accruing points to put pressure on Dumbarton and Dunfermline above them and start moving upwards again in the league table.
