Hibs 2 St Johnstone 0: Saints struggle again in hunt for first win of the season

Sloppy St Johnstone failed to make any capital gains from their trip to Easter Road.

Goals in either half from Lewis Miller and Dylan Vente secured Hibs maximum points.

It means that Saints remain without a win from any of their opening six Premiership matches and continue to occupy bottom spot in the table.

Sven Sprangler was finally able to pull on Perth colours in a competitive fixture after completing paperwork requirements.

Labelled as a ‘destroyer’, he was straight in from the start in the middle of the park alongside Dan Phillips - captain for the day - and Cammy MacPherson.

Occupying the flanks were Graham Carey and, returning from injury, Drey Wright while Stevie May was trusted in the forward department. Chris Kane missed out injured.

Defensively, James Brown, Sam McClelland, Andy Considine and Luke Robinson were tasked with keeping goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov quiet.

It was up the other end where Carey went close to giving Saints the lead in the opening minute of the game when his whipped free-kick crashed into the side-netting.

Hibs, who would see plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges, soon responded but Martin Boyle powered his effort wide of the post.

Around the half hour mark Saints had two chances which fell closer to the clear-cut category.

First MacPherson guided an effort from the edge of the box wide and then Phillips, creating space with a clever turn, blasted over from a promising position.

Saints had done pretty well to halt Hibs’ momentum but, in the 35th minute, weak defending and not taking responsibility cost them dearly.

It all seemed so easy for Joe Newell to clip a delivery to the back post and even easier for Miller to nod back across goal into the bottom corner.

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