Source: Team_Talk
Hibs hammered by slick Saints
John Hughes' team had designs on closing to within two points of Celtic in the Scottish Premier League but were swept aside by a slick home display.[LNB]Doubles from Cillian Sheridan and Liam Craig and a Kenny Deuchar strike saw Derek McInnes' side ease home in style.[LNB]Hibs, who scored through Anthony Stokes, saw their woes compounded by a straight red card for substitute Colin Nish, while an irate Hughes was also sent to the stand.[LNB]The visitors made just one change from the loss at Rangers, Derek Riordan coming in for Alan Gow. Centre-half Chris Hogg continued at right-back in place of David Wotherspoon.[LNB]St Johnstone had selection problems and made four changes from the defeat at Kilmarnock.[LNB]Jody Morris was absent with a stomach problem, along with Peter MacDonald. Paul Sheerin also dropped out, with Danny Grainger not included.[LNB]Steven Anderson came in at left-back, while Craig, Deuchar and Kevin Moon were also restored.[LNB]The hosts forced the first chance when a loose ball fell to Dave Mackay after a Craig free-kick had only been partially cleared and Hibs goalkeeper Graeme Smith had to push away his drive.[LNB]Hibs were struggling with Saints' aerial presence and after five minutes Craig claimed a fine opener.[LNB]Sheridan cushioned Murray Davidson's header into Craig's path and he struck a sweet left-footed drive from 20 yards for his sixth of the season.[LNB]It was also the sixth league game in a row St Johnstone had struck first and they doubled their advantage on 10 minutes.[LNB]This time Craig fed Davidson on the left and he centred for Sheridan to neatly flick past Smith for his first goal since arriving on loan from Celtic.[LNB]The one-way traffic continued and Sol Bamba and Hogg, in particular, were enduring a difficult time on the right of defence.[LNB]On the half-hour mark Graham Gartland was next to threaten, heading wide Craig's corner, before Sheridan's flick from a Chris Millar shot almost sneaked in.[LNB]On 35 minutes Smith again came to his side's rescue, blocking Sheridan's effort at his near post following another Craig ball down the left flank.[LNB]McInnes' men should have made it three five minutes after the restart.[LNB]Anderson's driven cross was not dealt with by Bamba, the ball breaking clear for Craig who could only weakly strike right-footed at Smith from 15 yards.[LNB]Riordan ballooned a shot over at the other end as the visitors finally registered a shot, before Sheridan burst clear only to shoot straight at the Hibs' keeper. Michael Duberry then headed into Smith's gloves following a Craig corner.[LNB]Hibs' were at last showing signs of a revival and Anderson had to kick a Riordan drive from almost off his own line.[LNB]Hogg's powerful header was then deflected into the net by Stokes, but the Irishman's celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.[LNB]Hughes rang the changes in search of a goal, Merouane Zemmama and Abdessalam Benjelloun withdrawn for Nish and Wotherspoon.[LNB]But it was the Perth outfit who claimed a vital third in the 62nd minute as Sheridan's fine cross from the left saw Deuchar bullet a header past Smith.[LNB]Hibs gave themselves a lifeline five minutes later when Stokes struck his 16th of the season, rounding Smith after a long ball from John Rankin.[LNB]But the match swiftly swung back in the hosts' favour on 70 minutes. First Nish was handed a straight red card by referee Brian Winter for an off-the-ball kick at Duberry.[LNB]Sheridan then compounded the visitors' woe, sweeping home after excellent work from Deuchar.[LNB]Hughes' blood boiled, forcing Winter to send him to the stands after his comments to the fourth official.[LNB]Craig put the icing on the cake for the hosts, netting a 78th-minute penalty after Bamba had handled his corner.[LNB]Smith got his hands to the spot-kick but the ball squirmed over the line to sum up Hibs' night.[LNB]The only blot for McInnes was a serious-looking injury to Deuchar late on.[LNB][LNB]
