St Mirren welcome table toppers Hibernian to the Paisley 2021 Stadium tonight as Saints look for a fourth successive win in all competitions.
The Buddies come into this evening's match on the back of a 2-0 win over Ayr United at Somerset Park on Saturday which made it three wins on the spin for Jack Ross' side. Second half goals from John Sutton and Lewis Morgan secured all three points and gave Saints their third league win of the season.
That victory came after a 4-1 win over The New Saints in the IRN-BRU Cup and a 3-2 triumph against East Fife in the Scottish Cup and represents Saints' best form of the season with just three defeats in the last 13. It's also the first time the Buddies have won three matches on the bounce since the 2012/13 season.
Tonight's visitors failed to win a league match in February; drawing with Ayr United, Raith Rovers and, most recently, Dunfermline Athletic. They did, however, defeat Edinburgh rivals Hearts in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, beating the Jambos 3-1 at Easter Road after having drawn 0-0 with them at Tynecastle 10 days earlier.
Martin Boyle and Jason Cummings were on target in their last match in the Ladbrokes Championship against Dunfermline Athletic at Easter Road on Saturday. Their goals put the Hibees 2-0 up before the Pars struck back with goals from ex-Saint Paul McMullan and Kallum Higgbotham to grab a share of the spoils.
Neil Lennon's side completed moves to bring in defensive pair Efe Ambrose and Brian McLean on short-term deals to cover a deepening injury crisis and both are eligible to play in tonight's match.
Saints have a victory over Hibernian this season, with a 2-1 win over Neil Lennon's side in the IRN-BRU Cup at Easter Road in October. Stephen Mallan scored a brilliant first half free kick to level after Alex Harris had given the Hibees the lead minutes early, before David Clarkson's 82nd minute effort was enough to send the Buddies into the quarter-final stage of the Challenge Cup.
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.
With tonight's game being top versus bottom both sides have it all to play for when the whistle sounds for kick-off this evening. For the Buddies, they will be looking to cut the gap over Ayr United to five points after the Honest Men defeated Raith Rovers last night in the hopes of moving off the bottom spot. While Hibs will be looking to get back to winning ways in the league as they plot a return to the Scottish Premiership.
