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Lewis Jamieson’s stoppage-time strike earned St Mirren a battling 2-2 draw at home to Hibernian in the cinch Premiership.
Joe Newell’s second-half goal looked to have earned Hibs a first win in seven games after Josh Campbell’s opener had been cancelled out by a Mark O’Hara penalty.
Jamieson, though, grabbed his first goal for Saints, who remain in third but have now won just one of their last six games.
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson made just one change from the team beaten by Celtic a week earlier, with Mikael Mandron coming in for Toyosi Olusanya.
Hibs were looking to bounce back from the disappointment of their Viaplay Cup semi-final loss to Aberdeen and made two changes to their line-up.
Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller both dropped to the bench, their places taken by Rory Whittaker and Campbell, the former making his first league start at the age of 17.
The home side had the first chance when Scott Tanser shot well wide from just outside the box but it was Hibs who moved in front after 12 minutes.
Lewis Jamieson (left) is congratulated after scoring St Mirren’s late equalliser
Alex Gogic misjudged Jordan Obita’s ball forward and allowed it to run under his foot. Dylan Vente took advantage to play in Campbell who finished well.
St Mirren rallied from the setback but it was Hibs who looked more likely to score again.
Richard Taylor did well to block an Elie Youan goalbound effort before Vente tried his luck from a tight angle, his shot only narrowly off target.
Saints responded with a hopeful O’Hara long-range header that was easily held by David Marshall, before Youan was twice denied at the other end, the second by a smart Zach Hemming save. The winger then thrashed a shot wide of the far post when he ought to have hit the target.
At the other end, Caolan Boyd-Munce tried his luck from distance but failed to hit the target to leave Saints trailing at the break.
They started the second half again on top and Marcus Fraser’s volley went just wide.
Hibs nearly doubled their lead after another Gogic mistake. The defender was weak with a back pass allowing Campbell to nip in but Hemming did brilliantly to save the forward’s shot.
That save became even more significant when St Mirren were awarded a penalty after a VAR intervention. Obita fouled Taylor at a corner and, after referee Steven McLean confirmed the decision, O’Hara stroked home the spot-kick.
Hibs responded with a Youan strike that Hemming did well to tip around the post before forging back in front after 69 minutes.
Youan spun away from Taylor to send Vente clear and the Dutchman’s cross was finished at the back post by Newell.
That looked like being the winner until Jamieson’s finish from close range earned his team a point.
What the managers said…
St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson:
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St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson praises his team’s spirit in their 2-2 draw with Hibs and shares his doubts about VAR.
“I thought it was a point we thoroughly deserved. We weren’t as defensively good as we could have been but our forward play and some of our movement and deliveries were excellent.
“I thought we were calm, we kept the ball, and we moved it well and got balls into the box. We should have been level before we were, we could have potentially been going for a winning goal.
“It wasn’t to be, but overall I think it’s one of our best performances this season, the way we played, the way we battled, the response we showed to adversity was excellent. I’m actually disappointed that we didn’t win the game.”
Hibs boss Nick Montgomery:
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Hibs manager Nick Montgomery shares his disappointment after drawing 2-2 with St Mirren and disputes performing poorly in away matches.
“It’s another game we could have got three points out of, but we only have ourselves to blame.
“We can talk about managing the game and finishing it off and I thought we had plenty of chances to do that even in the first half. We were outstanding.
“But the equaliser is of our own doing. There’s a minute to go and we just need to see the game out.
“We had a breakaway and we somehow turn the ball over and the next thing it’s in the back of the net.
“It’s another game where we have led away from home, and it might be a good point come the end of the season but right now it’s a difficult one to take.
“I’m not here to talk about refereeing or VAR, but if that’s a penalty there are going to be 10 penalties in every game. I’m a little bit frustrated by that one as well.
“Look, the ball wasn’t even going in that area. I’ve watched it and the lad has got in front of Jordan Obita – but he’s six-foot-five and he’s just dropped to the floor with no contact.
“If players want to just throw themselves on the floor and they’re going to go and look at VAR, there are going to be a lot of stoppages.”
What’s next?
St Mirren’s next Scottish Premiership match away to Dundee on Saturday while Hibernian host Kilmarnock.
Both games kick-off at 3pm.
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