A first-half double from Conor McMenamin saw St Mirren pick up a thoroughly deserved three points away from home in the William Hill Premiership.
The Northern Ireland international's brace was enough to ensure a 2-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road. But contrary to what the narrow scoreline may have suggested, it was dominant performance from Stephen Robinson's men.
The manager made just one change to the side that drew 0-0 with Ross County last weekend with McMenamin coming in for his first start of the season in place of James Scott.
After a fairly even opening to the match, Saints took the lead with just 16 minutes on the clock. McMenamin did well to hold off the challenge from a Hibs defender before feeding the ball to Mark O'Hara. The captain switched it wide left to Scott Tanser who sent in a terrific low cross that McMenamin turned in from close range.
Conor McMenamin celebrates his opening goal (Image: Paul Byars)
Hibernian came close to a leveller just before the half-hour mark with Elie Youan smashing his effort off the post. The forward played a nice one-two with former Saints midfielder Hyeokkyu Kwon before turning his man and seeing his powerful strike hit the woodwork.
It was Saints who would add to their tally though with McMenamin getting his and The Buddies' second on 31 minutes. The Northern Ireland international robbed Warren O'Hora to steal the ball and charged forward from deep in the Hibernian half. He had Greg Kiltie and Toyosi Olusanya as options but elected to go himself as he slammed beyond Josef Bursik.
McMenamin adds his and St Mirren's second (Image: Paul Byars)
Stephen Robinson's men looked the more likely to extend their advantage before half-time. Killian Phillips met a cushioned header from Kiltie but saw his low effort from inside the area deflected wide.
Hibernian boss David Gray responded to his side's first-half showing by making three changes at the interval. Rocky Bushiri replaced O'Hora, while Nicky Cadden and Dylan Levitt replaced Hyeokkyu Kwon and Nectarios Triantis. An early cross from Nicky Cadden looked primed to meet Martin Boyle at the far post, but Tanser got his head on it to take away from the Hibs forward.
Joe Newell was shown a yellow card for the home side around five minutes after the restarting after a foul on Phillips around 25 yard from the Hibernian goal. After receiving treatment, it was Phillips who stood up to take but he curled a low effort straight into the arms of Bursik.
Saints should have had a third on the hour mark. Richard Taylor rose the highest to meet a Tanser corner but his header cannoned off the bar. It fell to Alex Gogic with the goal gaping but he headed over.
It looked like the Buddies would rue the miss almost immediately when Hibernian were awarded a penalty just a minute later. Martin Boyle went down under the challenge of O'Hara and while it looked soft, a VAR check didn't rule it to be a clear and obvious error by referee Iain Snedden. Boyle stepped up to take but Balcombe was equal to the effort, diving low to his right and holding.
Ellery Balcombe saves Martin Boyle's penalty (Image: Paul Byars)
The manager made three changes with just over 20 minutes remaining when Oisin Smyth, Jonah Ayunga and Mikael Mandron replaced Kiltie, McMenamin and Olusanya. Mandron had a chance almost immediately after his introduction but his effort was tame which allowed Bursik to gather with ease.
Hibernian started to see more of the ball as they searched for a way back into the match, but Saints were looking threatening on the counter with Ayunga seeing a strike blocked on 76 minutes.
The game looked to be ticking away to a comfortable St Mirren victory. But when do St Mirren ever do things the easy way? A handball from Gogic saw the hosts awarded a penalty in the third minute of added on time which Nicky Cadden despatched to reduce the deficit. And mere moments later, Cadden looked to have given Hibernian the unlikeliest of points when he lashed home from inside the area. Thankfully, VAR intervened with the ball having struck off substitute Dwight Gayle who was in an offside position.
Full-Time: Hibernian 1-2 St Mirren
Ellery Balcombe and Conor McMenamin celebrate post-match (Image: Paul Byars)
St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Bwomono, Phillips, O'Hara (c), Tanser, McMenamin (Ayunga 67), Olusanya (Mandron 67), Kiltie (Smyth 67)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Penman, Adeniran, Idowu, Scott, Mooney
Hibernian: Bursik, C. Cadden, Ekpiteta, O'Hora (Bushiri 46), Obita, Kwon (N.Cadden 46), Triantis (Levitt 46), Newell, Youan, Boyle (Gayle 67), Hoilett (McKirdy 67)
Subs Not Used: Smith, Miller, Doyle-Hayes, Iredale
Referee: Iain Snedden
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Assistant Referee: Andy Milne
Fourth Official: Lloyd Wilson
VAR: Kevin Clancy
Attendance: 15,594
Manager Reaction - "I thought for 80 minutes we were outstanding."
Stephen Robinson gives his thoughts after our win at Easter Road.
