Hibs in late VAR penalty drama against St Mirren – ratings and report as Gray’s Euro adventurers come home
Hibs in late VAR penalty drama against St Mirren – ratings and report as Gray’s Euro adventurers come home.
Video of Moving Easter Road fans pay tribute to former chairman Rod Petrie. Hibs were denied a chance to end their winless streak against St Mirren due to a late VAR drama.
A penalty appeal was dismissed in injury time of a 1-1 draw. A disputed goal by Miguel Freckleton on the hour mark, his bundled finish standing following a VAR check despite former Hibee Alex Gogic clearly being in an offside position right in front of home custodian Jordan Smith, gave the visitors the lead.
Rocky Bushiri equalised from close range just nine minutes later. Despite sending bodies and balls into the box, referee Matthew MacDermid only blew for full-time following an injury-time VAR check after a Thibault Klidje flick looked to strike an opponent’s arm in the penalty area.
St Mirren were the only team Hibs failed to beat last season, an often-overlooked fact in a season in which David Gray’s side racked up all kinds of fantastic stats.
The Hibees had not defeated the Buddies since September of 2023, and their drought for a league victory had begun in May of that same year.
A home team that made five changes from the starting lineup against Legia shown plenty of determination to change that statistic from the outset, with Junior Hoilett smashing an effort off the crossbar after only six minutes.
Hoilett, Miguel Chaiwa, Thibaul Klidje, and Martin Boyle all looked energetic early on, and Bushiri headed a Nicky Cadden delivery – a left-footed in-swinger from the right – just wide in the second phase of a set-piece play.
By the start of the second half, Hibs appeared to have punched themselves out. Even the players who did not put in mammoth stints on Thursday night were heavy-legged and slow-witted as the game threatened to slip away from them.
The goal, from a St Mirren free kick that was retaken due to an infraction on the first attempt, was an all-around disaster. SOMEONE was clearly offside.
But not the goal scorer, who most likely should have been picked up. It didn’t take Hibs even 10 minutes to square the score, as Bushiri flicked on a corner from the left and bundled it home at the back post. That set up a grandstand finish.
Despite late chances from Klidje, Josh Mulligan, and Kieron Bowie, Gray’s men were unable to rebound from Thursday night’s UEFA Conference League defeat with a domestic victory.
1. GK Jordan Smith 6/10
Rooted to the spot for the goal, albeit that could have been due to an offside Alex Gogic dashing across his eyeline. Good distribution. SNS Group
2. RCB Grant Hanley 6.5/10
Excellent late clearance off the line just as Jayden Richardson sought to score. I’d like to learn more about his role in the free kick that gave the visitors their breakthrough. SNS Group
3. CB Rocky Bushiri 7/10
During Hibs’ early dominance, he flashed a header wide of the post. Then he bundled home the equaliser amid considerable fanfare. SNS Group
4. LCB Jack Iredale 6/10
The Hibs defence three had to work extremely hard against a tough St Mirren forward two that did not give them a break. Some excellent passing from the back. Obita took over for the final ten minutes. SNS Group
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