Lindsay Muir hit a brace as Hibs put Saints to the sword in this goal feast
HIBS hit the goal trail with a vengeance when St Johnstone were blasted by a second-half goal rush. Five goals came in 12 minutes after the interval with young Lindsay Muir stepping in for a quick double.
It was Muir who provided the first flash
of excitement for Hibs. He took a return pass from Arthur Duncan and blasted a 25-yarder against the crossbar. The ball bounced high into the air and the wind almost carried it into the net and Robertson had to make a frantic dive to prevent a goal.
It wasn't all Hibs, though. McGregor had a good try blocked for Saints and then he found Hibs' defence was easily split in a one-two move with the man who would later become synonymous with the hot seat at Partick Thistle – not to mention pigeons – John Lambie.
In 33 minutes Duncan sent a low corner towards John Blackley, who turned the ball further into the middle for Macleod to open Hibs' account.
The second goal arrived in 42 minutes. MacLeod moved to collect a Duncan pass when Taylor intervened and handled the ball. The referee gave a penalty which Brownlie swept past Robertson.
Hibs hit struggling Saints with three goals in the first six minutes of the second half. This sequence began in 48 minutes when Fyfe was hauled down by Thomson in the box. Brownlie scored his own second goal from the spot.
Two minutes later, Bremner collected a Blackley pass and sent a raging right-footer past Robertson from the edge of the box.
Hibs made it five in 51 minutes when Scott put his name on the scoresheet after Smith had carelessly lofted the ball into the air for Hibs' centre to volley a fierce one into the net.
The goal-spree continued at the other end, for slack work by Brownlie led to Sellars lobbing a St Johnstone goal in 54 minutes.
St Johnstone were totally outclassed and Hibs banged in two more goals within a minute on the hour.
A fast cross from MacLeod on the right was headed back into the middle by Duncan and Muir finished it off. Only seconds later, another Duncan cross provided Muir with his own second goal and Hibs' seventh.
Although Hibs were well on top, the defence had a sloppy appearance as St Johnstone grabbed a second goal in 71 minutes.
From a Lambie corner on the right, Sellars nodded the ball into the middle and Thomson headed home.
At least there was value for money in terms of goals, and Hibs went 8-2 in front with 15 minutes to go. It was one of the best in the game with Brownlie and Scott setting it up for Macleod.
Duncan shot a ninth goal for Hibs with four minutes left.
Hibs: McDonald, Brownlie, Smith, Bremner, Stewart, Blackley, Fyfe, MacLeod, Scott, Muir, Duncan.
Subs: Stanton, McGhee.
St Johnstone: D Robertson, McKay, McBean, Taylor, Rankin, Smith, V Robertson, Lambie, McGregor, Thomson, Sellars.
Subs: Hamilton, Robson.
Referee: KJ Hope, Glasgow.
Attendance: 6000.
The full article contains 533 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
