Saints defy conditions to secure home win

Nov 29 2011 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THRASHING rain, swirling winds, plummeting temperatures and moody grey clouds provided a dreary backdrop for Steve Lomas’ McDiarmid Park inauguration on Saturday afternoon.

And the sluggish start from both St Johnstone and Hibs led the 3782 devoted fans to believe they would be forced to endure an equally dismal afternoon of football.

But by 5pm, whilst Peter Houston was using the adverse weather to call for the introduction of summer football, following Dundee United’s goalless encounter with Motherwell, a buoyant Lomas was praising his “fantastic” players.

And the Northern Irishman insisted his team’s desire and drive to turn around a 1-0 deficit, to secure a 3-1 win against their Edinburgh opponents, had turned last week’s “good” point at Ibrox into a “great” one.

Preparing for his first home match since taking over, Lomas made only one change ahead of Hibs’ visit.

Shuffling his side around, the gaffer replaced skipper Jody Morris, who was suffering a hamstring problem, with striker Cillian Sheridan, who had missed the Ibrox trip with a similar injury.

But Sheridan, who faced a late fitness test, lasted only eight minutes after pulling up whilst chasing a pass from midfielder Kevin Moon and was replaced by Canadian forward Marcus Haber.

Neither side posed a significant goal threat for the opening 25 minutes.

Early highlights comprised an unsuccessful penalty shout from Hibs’ Martin Scott against an alleged Steven Anderson handball and a mazy run from Fran Sandaza before the on-fire striker stumbled amid pressure from several black-shirted defenders.

However, on 26 minutes Hibs broke the deadlock in front of new boss, Pat Fenlon, and brought the game to life.

Murray Davidson - under pressure from Scott - nudged the ball back towards Frazer Wright, Leigh Griffiths intercepted and his deflected effort on goal was impressively pushed away by Peter Enckelman’s left hand. But the Finn was unable to keep out Richie Towell’s follow-up despite his best efforts.

Boosted by their goal, Hibs continued to attack and Martin Scott missed a header whilst Anderson, Murray Davidson and Chris Millar failed to hit the target for the home side.

But the frustrated Saints fans were rewarded for their patience after 38 minutes.

A Graham Stack goal kick was volleyed back by Millar and, with the ball caught under the feet of David Stephens, a sprightly Sandaza nipped in and slotted past the helpless Hibs keeper at the second time of asking, after his initial effort rebounded off the post.

Motivated by both the well-voiced spectators and the belief suddenly injected by the equaliser, Saints added a second in first-half stoppage time.

A forceful run from Anderson on the right preceded a pass to vice-captain Dave Mackay, whose pinpoint soaring cross found a towering Haber at the back post, who headed home from a tight angle.

Picking up from their positive finish to the first half, Saints sealed their victory a mere two minutes after the interval.

Mackay stepped up to extend Saints’ lead by carefully placing a direct free-kick inside Stack’s left hand post, after Murray Davidson was fouled outside the Hibs’ box by Stephens, sending the home fans into a frenzy.

Hibs were stunned and an inspired St Johnstone continued to keep the ball and create chances.

Sean O’Hanlon received yellow from official Bobby Madden for pulling down Sandaza before tempting crosses from both Millar and Craig and attempts from a determined Haber and Sandaza caused further problems.

Animated caretaker boss Billy Brown urged Hibs forward as the clock ticked down, whilst a calm looking Lomas spent the majority of the second half camped in his technical area.

Substitute Manuel Junior Agogo headed inches over for the visitors before Paul Hanlon prevented a certain fourth with a superb well timed tackle on Sandaza, who was lurking in the eight-yard box.

Haber also had an excellent chance to add another, but his effort cannoned off the far post after powering a through ball from Murray Davidson past outstretched Stack.

The victory has notched up a further three points for fourth-placed Saints, who travel to Tynecastle on Saturday to face Hearts, who lie one point behind in fifth.

SAINTS: Enckelman, Mackay, Davidson, Wright, Anderson, Millar, Davidson, Craig, Moon, Sheridan (Haber 8), Sandaza. Subs not used: Mannus, Maybury, Durnan, May, McIntosh, Finnigan.

HIBS: Stack, Hanlon, O’Hanlon, Stephens, Towell (Sodje 66), Wotherspoon, Scott (Galbraith 72), Stevenson, Sproule, Osbourne, Griffiths (Agogo 74). Subs not used: Brown, Murray, Palsson, Welsh.

REFEREE: Bobby Madden