St Johnstone ease past Hibernian

St Johnstone have leapfrogged Hibernian in the SPL table with a comfortable 3-1 win over the Edinburgh outfit this evening.

© PA Photos / Danny Lawson

The visitors took the lead in the 21st minute when Steven MacLean's strike was parried by Ben Williams into the path of Rowan Vine, who made no mistake with his finish.

Vine doubled his personal tally just four minutes later with a curling strike that left Williams rooted to the spot.

St Johnstone had a great chance to make it 3-0 just after the half-hour mark when Mehdi Abeid was brought down by Ryan McGivern inside the box. MacLean stepped up, but saw his penalty saved by Williams.

Abeid then had a chance of his own after bursting through the opposition defence, but he could only drag his shot wide.

The Saints finally did get a third just before the hour mark after a good move between MacLean, Murray Davidson and Patrick Cregg saw the latter one-on-one with the keeper, and he duly tucked the effort away.

Hibs pulled a goal back with eight minutes of normal time left when Leigh Griffiths placed his shot past Alan Mannus, but it wasn't enough as St Johnstone ran out comfortable winners.