Hibernian 0-0 Saints

There was little to separate sides as Cammy MacPherson fired over from distance, whilst Callum Hendry couldn’t make a clean connection with a Melker Hallberg cross as Kevin Dabrowski gathered the ball. Whilst for Hibs Christian Doidge was denied from close range by Zander Clark after the Saints keeper palmed a Chris Cadden strike. Then in the second half substitute John Mahon made a great block to turn a Josh Doig effort behind for a corner.  

Saints are back in action in a fortnight as when they welcome Motherwell to McDiarmid Park, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints travelled to the capital today to take on Hibs at Easter Road. Saints were looking to bounce back for Wednesday’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Rangers in Perth and Callum Davidson made four changes to his starting eleven as Elliott Parish, James Brown, Jacob Butterfield and Nadir Çiftçi all dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Zander Clark, Dan Cleary, Cammy MacPherson and Glenn Middleton. Ten-man Hibs drew 0-0 at Dundee in midweek and Head Coach Shaun Maloney made one change as Sylvester Jasper came in to replace the suspended Rocky Bushiri who missed out due to suspension.

It was a sunny afternoon in Leith as Ewan Henderson got the match underway for the hosts. It was the Easter Road side who created the first chance on 7 minutes as Sylvester Jasper carried the ball down the left wing before cutting it back to Henderson but his first time left footed effort was blocked by Cammy MacPherson.

On 17 minutes Jake Doyle-Hayes played a one-two with Henderson as the Irish midfielder broke into the Saints box and tried to pick out Drey Wright with his cross but Saints captain Liam Gordon made an excellent tackle to clear the danger. Then shortly after Jasper had a go from just inside the box but his effort was straight at Zander Clark.

Saints were then forced to make a change on 20 minutes as James Brown came on to replace the injured Tom Sang.  

PHOTO: Callum Hendry is tackled by Ryan Porteous

Hibs were enjoying more of the possession however, on 27 minutes a good Saints move down the left saw Tony Gallacher whip a dangerous ball into the box but Glenn Middleton couldn’t make a clean connection as the Hibs defence cleared the danger.

Saints were being backed by almost 2,000 fans in the South Stand and as the first half progressed the Perth side were coming into the game more and on 37 minutes Saints were awarded a free kick near the byline after Ali Crawford had been fouled by Wright. MacPherson took the free kick and he delivered an inviting delivery into the box but no one could get on the end of it as the ball went narrowly wide of Kevin Dabrowski’s left hand post. Then a minute later Melker Hallberg had Hibs keeper Kevin Dabrowski scrambling across his goal as his shot from distance went narrowly wide.

With 6 minutes of the first half remaining Jasper went on another powerful run down the left and the on-loan Fulham winger delivered an inviting cross into the box which Christian Doidge was inches away from making a connection with as the ball went behind for goal kick. Then moments later Clark was called into action as he parried Chris Cadden’s shot from the edge of the area and the ball fell into the path of Doidge but Clark recovered to make a point blank save as he turned the ball behind for a corner.  

PHOTO: Glenn Middleton is closed down by Josh Doig

Saints made a change before the second half could get underway as Michael O’Halloran came on to replace the injured James Brown.

10 minutes into the second half MacPherson mistimed a tackle on Doyle-Hayes and a group of Hibs players demanded that the Saints midfielder should be sent off. However, referee Craig Napier took his time before showing MacPherson a yellow card which did not go down well with the home support.  

Saints were awarded a free kick on 57 minutes after Callum Hendry had been fouled by Ryan Porteous. MacPherson took the free kick and he decided to have a go from distance but his effort from 35 yards didn’t trouble Dabrowski.

Just before the hour mark Saints were appealing for a penalty after Hendry went down in the box however, the appeals were dismissed by Craig Napier.

PHOTO: Kevin Dabrowski punches clear from Glenn Middleton

Both sides then made changes as Nadir Çiftçi came on to replace Glenn Middleton whilst the hosts made a double change as Scott Allan and Elis Melkersen came on to replace Christian Doidge and Ewan Henderson.

It didn’t take Melkersen long to get involved in the game as on 67 minutes he saw his strike take a deflection off Gordon and looped over for a corner.

A good Saints move a couple of minutes later saw MacPherson pick out Hallberg in space out on the right and the Swedish midfielder tried to pick out Hendry at the back post however, the Saints forward couldn’t get enough power on his header as Dabrowski gathered the ball.

The closing stages MacPherson saw his driving long range effort go sailing over and then Saints were forced into another change as John Mahon came on to replace Jamie McCart who had picked up a knock.

PHOTO: Cammy MacPherson shoots over the bar

Mahon quickly got stuck in as he made a crucial block to turn a Josh Doig effort behind for a corner. The hosts were looking the more likely to break the deadlock and Chris Cadden fired over late on as Saints were able to see the game out to leave Leith with a point.

Hibernian: Dabrowski, Doig, Porteous, Wright (Hauge 72), Doidge (Melkersen 59), Stevenson, Jasper, Doyle-Hayes, Cadden, Campbell, Henderson (Allan 59)

Unused Substitutes: Mitchell (GK), McGregor, Scott, Delferrière, O’Connor, Blaney  

Booked: Allan, Melkersen, Doyle-Hayes

Saints: Clark, Gallacher, McCart (Mahon 85), Cleary, Gordon, Middleton (Çiftçi 59), MacPherson, Crawford, Hendry, Sang (Brown 20) (O’Halloran 45), Hallberg

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), May, Gilmour, Bair, Butterfield

Booked: Cleary, MacPherson, O’Halloran

Referee: Craig Napier

Attendance: 19,585

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Callum Hendry holds off Jake Doyle-Hayes