Hibernian make a point against St Johnstone thanks to Oli Shaw leveller

Posted Monday, August 13, 2018 by PA

Oli Shaw’s second goal of the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign earned Hibernian a deserved point against St Johnstone.

Saints opened the scoring against the run of play midway through the first half when Tony Watt’s speculative effort deflected in off Ryan Porteous.

But Shaw headed home Martin Boyle’s cross early in the second half to add to his goal against Motherwell last weekend.

The visitors continued to create chances but St Johnstone also had opportunities in the second period of the 1-1 McDiarmid Park draw.

Hibs made four changes in the midst of their Europa League encounter with Molde with Emerson Hyndman making his full debut. New signing Daryl Horgan was named on the bench following his move from Preston on Saturday.

Shaw was among those coming in and he threatened several times in the opening 15 minutes, going closest when Zander Clark tipped his header wide following Boyle’s cross.

Boyle was getting the better of left-back Scott Tanser and he soon squared for Jamie Maclaren, but Richard Foster stopped the Australian’s shot going in the net and referee Willie Collum blanked Hibs’ claims the ball was over the line.

Hibs seemed in control but Watt carved a goal from nowhere after robbing Stevie Mallan of the ball inside the Hibs box. The former Celtic striker was faced with a difficult angle and tried his luck with a shot that took a kick off the foot of Porteous and flew into the far corner of the net.

Boyle continued to cause havoc as Hibs looked for an equaliser. Clark pushed away his low drive and saw the rebound bounce safely off Maclaren, before Steven Anderson cleared from inside his six-yard box as the winger tried to set up the Australian.

Saints were close to going into the break two up but Ross Laidlaw clawed Matty Kennedy’s curling effort away from his top corner, and Hibs levelled inside six minutes of the second half.

The source of the goal was no surprise. Boyle sent in a cross from deep which bounced behind the Saints central defence and Shaw stooped to head home from close range.

Clark saved Mallan’s long-range drive as Hibs tried to maintain the momentum and Horgan came on along with Florian Kamberi in the 63rd minute.

Kamberi headed just over after getting on the end of Mallan’s corner and Horgan showed some good touches just behind the Hibs front two, but both Murray Davidson and Blair Alston were not far off target with headers at the other end.

Lewis Stevenson went closer with a long-range strike which bounced just wide after a long spell of Hibs possession, but the visitors needed an excellent Efe Ambrose block to stop Alston netting a late winner with a powerful drive.