Saints 0-1 Hibernian

Despite enjoying the better of the match, Callum Davidson's men well left distraught at the full-time whistle after John Beaton adjudged Liam Gordon to have fouled his man in the penalty area in second half stoppage time.

Callum Hendry had what looked like a clear first half goal ruled out for offside and the misery was compounded by a red card for Liam Craig at full-time.

It means Saints are still to record their first home win of the campaign and will hope to do so next weekend against St Mirren.

Callum Davidson made one change for today's match against Hibs with David Wotherspoon dropping to the bench being replaced by Craig Conway in the starting XI.

The visitors came out the blocks the quicker and Saints 'keeper Elliott Parish had to be alert early on, making a great stop down low to deny Martin Boyle in the third minute.

Danny McNamara forged the first home attack of the afternoon, driving forward inside the Hibs half before seeing his effort blocked by a tangle of legs. The on-loan Millwall wing-back would be the first player in the book six minutes later, cautioned for a challenge on Scott Allan.

In a half with few chances, there was a spell of three minutes which saw three goals ruled out by referee John Beaton.

Firstly, Martin Boyle was flagged offside after tapping the ball past Saints 'keeper Parish on 29 minutes.

Just a minute later, Saints thought they had taken the lead when Callum Hendry headed past Marciano from inside the area. The linesman flagged for offside although replays appear to show that the 22-year-old striker was in fact onside.

On 32 minutes, the visitors had the ball in the net this time through Christian Doidge but the Hibs man was adjudged to have handled the ball in the build-up.

The sides went in at the break goalless and in the second half it was Saints who came out all guns blazing.

Callum Hendry and Jason Kerr both fizzed great crosses into the six-yard-box which evaded all attackers before Danny McNamara forced Marciano into a save as the Israeli 'keeper tipped the strike from the edge of the area over the crossbar.

On the hour mark, former Saints winger Drey Wright made his return to McDiarmid Park as he replaced Daryl Horgan for the visitors. Callum Davidson made a double switch of his own, Stevie May and David Wotherspoon replacing Craig Conway and Callum Hendry.

Michael O'Halloran tried to drive his side on and his surging run on 68 minutes resulted in the Saints number 11 cutting the ball back into a great area with no takers inside the Hibs box.

John Robertson replaced O'Halloran with five minutes to go as Callum Davidson looked to capitalise on his side's second half dominance.

But it was to be late agony once again for Saints as referee John Beaton pointed to the spot for a foul by Liam Gordon in the area.

Hibs substitute Stevie Mallan stepped up and fired the ball past Parish to put the visitors 0-1 up.

That's how it stayed and after the full-time whistle, player frustrations bubbled over with Liam Craig being shown a second yellow card for dissent.

SAINTS: Parish, Kerr (c), Gordon, McCart, McNamara, Tanser, Craig, McCann, Conway (Wotherspoon 63), O'Halloran (Robertson 85), Hendry (May 63)

UNUSED SUBS: Sinclair, Booth, Duffy, Rooney, Olaofe, Ballantyne

SENT-OFF: Craig (90)

HIBS: Marciano, McGinn, Porteous, Hanlon, Doig (Gullan 74), Boyle, Gogic, Newell (Hallberg 74), Horgan (Wright 61), Allan (Mallan 65), Doidge

UNUSED SUBS: Dabrowski, Gray, McGregor, Stevenson, Murray

SCORER: Mallan (pen 90)