St Johnstone 1-1 Hibernian

Michael O'Halloran continued his fine scoring run as St Johnstone survived a second half onslaught to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

The Saints forward slammed home his fifth of the campaign on 48 minutes, finishing off a swift breakaway.

An own goal from Paul Paton drew Hibernian level on the hour, with the visitors piling on the pressure.

Hibs continued to make most of the running, with Alan Mannus making a great save to deny Martin Boyle.

St Johnstone's unbeaten start to the season has been no fluke.

Not only are they well-organised and difficult to break down, they are also capable of attractive, fluent attacking play, which was in evidence as Steven MacLean, O'Halloran and Stefan Scougall combined in the early stages.

Frustratingly for the home fans, they couldn't turn their early pressure into goals, which allowed Hibernian to work their way into the game.

But as enterprising as both sides were in the opening 45 minutes, neither goalkeeper was required to make a save of note.

That changed promptly after the break when Mannus saved well from the impressive Boyle, with Richard Foster making two blocks in front of goal to deny Anthony Stokes, then Simon Murray.

No sooner had they been denied, Hibs found themselves behind, conceding the first goal for the fifth time in five league outings.

St Johnstone burst forward down the left and substitute Liam Craig showed good composure to lift his head and pick out O'Halloran at the back post, the forward finishing emphatically from close range.

Hibs strikers Simon Murray and Anthony Stokes celebrate the equaliser in Perth

Hibernian, as they had in the opening period, battled back into the match and dragged themselves level on 61 minutes.

The normally reliable Steven Anderson could not cut out a long ball down the Hibs left, which allowed Murray to latch onto the ball.

He fired a low cross into the six-yard box and, under severe pressure from Stokes, the stretching Paton turned the ball past his own goalkeeper.

Hibs really took the initiative after that and went in search of a winning goal, with Anderson making amends with a great clearing header under his own crossbar.

But the closest they came was when Boyle's 20-yard drive forced Mannus into a terrific fingertip save, turning the ball onto the crossbar.

Both sides can take great credit from an enthralling contest. Saints maintain their unbeaten run, while Hibs will feel they have played well enough to win both this and their previous match away to Dundee - perhaps the only sore point for manager Neil Lennon.

Post-match reaction

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "I'm more satisfied with the point than I am with the performance. We started the game so well. The first 20 minutes we moved the ball well, looked energetic and then for whatever reason from 20-25 minutes in Hibs totally dominated the game.

"But when we get a goal ahead you think 'that'll lift us' but it didn't. I just thought all day we were too deep and allowing Hibs too much possession and they controlled the game and will be disappointed they didn't win it.

"I've just said to (the players) there's not many teams who'll play so poorly but still get a point from the game and I suppose that shows a bit of character but overall I've got to be extremely disappointed with the performance. I would expect better."

Hibernian manager Neil Lennon: "To come here and play as well as that, I'm delighted. We looked a very good side today and I can't criticise any part of the team, I thought we were outstanding and thoroughly deserved to win the game.

"The dominance of the team pleased me. St Johnstone do what they do very well and when they get the goal you're thinking 'it's difficult to break them down at times'.

"But we deserved the equaliser and went on and looked the stronger side. Our play in general, our football at times was spectacular against a very, very good side."