Hibs 2-0 St Mirren

Apr 6 2008 Gavin Berry At Easter Road

HIBS boss Mixu Paatelainen reckons his side could have racked up 30 goals had they kept up their whirlwind start.

The Edinburgh men raced into a 2-0 lead after only five minutes and had a third chopped off for offside shortly after as they threatened to blitz the startled Buddies.

But things calmed down and in the end Paatelainen had keeper Andy McNeil to thank for pulling off a string of fine saves as St Mirren rallied.

After early goals from Colin Nish and Merouane Zemmama gave them the perfect start and a vital victory, Mixu said: "The game would have finished 30-0 if we had carried on like we did in the first five minutes. "Unfortunately it never goes like that.

It was a tremendous start and all credit to the boys. They played really well on the front foot but at 2-0 the game is never over.

"If you concede one it's open and they are right back in it.

"Thankfully we never did and Andy McNeil was absolutely fantastic. They threw loads of strikers on but we held on thanks to him.

"Andy has a tremendous attitude in training and makes fantastic saves. Even after sessions he always works really hard to keep himself in tip-top condition."

Hibs' Euro aspirations suffered a blow with defeat to Motherwell last week but they got back on track here with a win that kept them in the hunt for third spot.

The Buddies had been Hibs' bogey team this season after sending the Easter Road men spinning to two defeats but Paatelainen's side wasted no time in getting down to business.

It was a blistering start from Hibs although keeper Chris Smith gave the home side a helping hand to open the scoring.

Under pressure from Steven Fletcher the keeper's poor clearance in four minutes fell straight at the feet of Nish.

From 25 yards out the former Kilmarnock man still had plenty to do although he made it look easy with a deft chip over Smith. Hibs' second a minute laterwas another long-range effort.

This time Zemmama took full advantage when the ball broke to him after Ian Murray and David Barron had challenged for it and the Moroccan unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard drive that flew past Smith.

St Mirren were rattled and it looked like being three soon after when Fletcher headed home Thierry Gathuessi's cross from the right flank.

However, the Hibs players' celebrations were shortlived with the flag being raised for offside.

Smith then went some way to making amends for his early error when he got down to save at Nish's feet after Fletcher picked the striker out with a pinpoint pass.

While it was only 2-0 the Buddies were always in with a chance and they gave Hibs a warning midway through the half when Craig Dargo sent his free header just wide with McNeil rooted to the spot.

In the second half it was the home side who went closest again just before the hour mark when Alan Reid headed the ball off his own bar from Zemmama's corner.

But almost immediately at the other end Barron nearly halved the deficit with an angled drive that McNeil brilliantly pushed wide to preserve Hibs' cushion.

With 10 minutes left the Hibs keeper made another two superb blocks in quick succession.

The first was a one-handed stop on the line from Will Haining's header followed up by the best save of the match when he pushed away the defender's volley.

And McNeil was called upon again right at the death to keep the points safe as he made further stunning stops from Haining and substitute Stewart Kean.

MATCH STATS

SHOTS ON 4

SHOTS OFF 1

OFFSIDE 5

FOULS 14

CORNERS 2

BOOKING 3

SHOTS ON 5

SHOTS OFF 8

OFFSIDE 4

FOULS 12

CORNERS 12

BOOKING 1

REF WATCH

STEPHEN FINNIE won't get many easier afternoons than this with little controversy in the game. But what he had to do he did well with his three Hibs bookings well justified in a good all-round display from the whistler. Rating: 7/10