Preview: St Mirren vs. Hibernian - prediction, team news, lineups

St Mirren look to back up an extraordinary weekend win over Celtic at Parkhead when they welcome Hibernian to Paisley on Tuesday for what should be an entertaining Scottish Premiership clash.

Hibs also secured an important three points on Saturday, winning 2-0 at Dundee United and narrowing the gap between themselves and third-placed Aberdeen.

Match preview

Whisper it quietly in the streets of Paisley, but Jim Goodwin's St Mirren team are turning into contenders for a top-half finish in this season's Scottish Premiership.

The Buddies were already the only domestic side to defeat Rangers this season, knocking them out of the League Cup earlier in the campaign, but on Saturday they also beat Celtic 2-1.

Goals from Kristian Dennis and Ilkay Durmus were enough to secure the Saints' first victory at Celtic Park since 1990 and take them to sixth in the table.

The win followed on from last week's 5-1 destruction of Dundee United at Tannadice, and Goodwin's team have shown no ill effects from their recent defeat to Livingston in the semi-final of the League Cup.

Goodwin felt that his players deserved enormous credit for their display at Parkhead, hailing their work rate and effort in particular.

Hibernian boss Jack Ross will be returning to Paisley to face his former club with his team in better spirits than they have been for some time.

Ross hailed the Hibs players for doing the ugly part of the game well in their win over Dundee United, only their second victory in eight games.

The goals came from Darren McGregor and Martin Boyle, and Hibs have now put seven points between themselves and the rapidly climbing Livingston, now fifth in the league table.

With Aberdeen facing Livingston again on Tuesday evening, Hibs have the opportunity to put further pressure on their rivals with a win in Paisley.

St Mirren Scottish Premiership form: LDDLWW St Mirren form (all competitions): DDLLWW

Hibernian Scottish Premiership form: LLDWLW Hibernian form (all competitions): LDWLLW

Team News

Jim Goodwin shook up his St Mirren lineup for the trip to Celtic, changing his formation to a 3-5-1-1 from the usual 4-5-1 shape.

It will be interesting to see if the Buddies retain that formation against Hibs, with forwards Collin Quaner and Lee Erwin out with a knee injury and a knock respectively.

Jack Ross left defender Ryan Porteous and forward Kevin Nisbet out of his starting lineup on Saturday as both have been linked with moves away from Easter Road.

Millwall are reportedly interested in Porteous, with Stoke City defender Liam Lindsay lined up as a possible replacement, while Birmingham City are keeping tabs on Nisbet.

Joe Newell is still out with a groin injury and Sean Mackie has a thigh problem, though both could return to action soon.

St Mirren possible starting lineup: Alnwick; Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy; Connolly, MacPherson, Erhahon, McGrath, Durmus; McAllister; Brophy

Hibernian possible starting lineup: Marciano; McGinn, McGregor, Hanlon; Cadden, Gogic, Irvine, Doig; Murphy; Doidge, Boyle

We say: St Mirren 1-1 Hibernian

We suspect that St Mirren's run of victories may come to an end on Tuesday in Paisley, and we predict that this game will end in a hard-fought draw.

Both sides enjoyed good results at the weekend, but we suspect that they will cancel each other out at the SMiSA Stadium.

Top betting tip

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