First Team
Match preview: Saints v Hibs
8th September 2017
Friday 8th September
Saints look to maintain their unbeaten start to the Premiership season this Saturday as Hibernian make the trip to McDiarmid Park.
A strong showing against champions Celtic last time out sees Saints sit two points off the league summit. Hibs, meanwhile, have made a solid start to life back in the top flight with seven points from their opening four games.
Saints have recently been recognised for their promising form with Tommy Wright receiving the Ladbrokes August Manager of the Month award and Michael O'Halloran picking up the players' award.
Wright has been full of praise for his players for their impressive work so far:
“It’s a great start for us, particularly when you factor in we went to Parkhead and got a positive result.
"If we’d held on for 10 minutes more we might have picked up 12 points but I’m more than happy with the start we’ve made and the level of performance over the four games."
Following the international break, Tommy Wright has the majority of his squad to choose from. Fresh from representing Northern Ireland, Alan Mannus and Paul Paton return to the squad. Murray Davidson should be declared fit after suffering a concussion in the draw with Celtic. Blair Alston, however, will likely remained sidelined with injury.
Hibs make the trip from the capital without a win in their last two games. Neil Lennon will be hoping for a repeat of the last time the two sides met when the Hibees secured a 2-1 win in the 2016 League Cup semi-final.
Saturday will be the first time the pair have met in league competition since the 2013/14 season when each side earned one win apiece.
Match preview by Gary Petersen.