St Mirren v HibsImage source, SNS

Watch St Mirren v Hibs highlights

14/05/25

Hibernian guaranteed the "incredible achievement" of third place in the Scottish Premiership and Europa League football despite spurning a two-goal lead at St Mirren, who maintained their own European hopes.

The Leith side looked likely to leave with all three points after a whirlwind start, with Martin Boyle and Mykola Kuharevich both scoring inside the opening 10 minutes.

Boyle could have had Hibs even further ahead in front of a raucous travelling support had Zach Hemming not denied the Australian international when he was clean through on goal.

St Mirren hung in, though, and halved the deficit with the last kick of the first half. Richard Taylor smashing home inside the box after a Killian Phillips free-kick.

The comeback was complete midway through the second half when Roland Idowu's cross was expertly turned in by Conor McMenamin, who almost won the match late on but watched his shot superbly thwarted by Hibs keeper Jordan Smith.

Before that save, St Mirren thought they had a third goal when Mikael Mandron rolled the ball into an empty net with Smith stranded.

However, Chris Graham pulled play back to the halfway line for a Hibs free-kick much to the fury of home manager Stephen Robinson, who was booked for his protests. His frustrations didn't ease when a Greg Kiltie effort came back off a post.

Had they won, St Mirren would have moved up into fifth - the final European place - but now need to get something at Celtic Park on Saturday and hope Dundee United lose at home to Aberdeen.

Hibs, though, can go into their final game with Rangers knowing they will be in Europe next season.

"When you think back to how the season's gone, the start we made, finding ourselves at the bottom of the league... the players have given me absolutely everything," manager David Gray told BBC Scotland.

"The hard work, the dedication, the commitment, the togetherness, all the things you need for a successful team. I'm delighted for the players, and I'm delighted for the club because I think they deserve it."

St Mirren live to fight another day

St Mirren showed spirit and guts after going two goals down and did very well to keep themselves in the game.

The substitutes made a huge impact and they will feel they could easily have taken all three points and left the chance of Europe in their own hands.

Robinson was furious that Mandron's effort was ruled out, and the second half showing was as good as the first half was poor.

They live to fight another day.

Hibs cannot maintain strong start

Hibs will feel this was one which got away. They threatened to completely blow St Mirren away in a start that was brighter than the dazzling early evening sunshine.

A couple of goals, total domination of the ball, and a display full of energy, verve and imagination.

Dylan Levitt and Nectar Triantis were the conductors in chief from midfield, stroking the ball around with ease and connecting with the intelligent running of Boyle and Junior Hoilett.

The capital side couldn't sustain their early momentum, but won't be overly disappointed with the point that guaranteed third place and means the fans can look out their passports for the Europa League.

What they said

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "The reaction from the players after the first 15 minutes was tremendous. We got ourselves right back into the game.

"We are still very much in with a chance of Europe with one game to go, which is amazing for the players.

"You've seen their desire, their energy, their quality tonight. We've got a real tough task at Celtic Park but we'll go with nothing to lose."

Hibs manager David Gray: "Top six is an absolute minimum but can you finish in Europe and can you have a good run and try and win a cup?

"Unfortunately, we didn't get quite the luck of the draw in the cups, but to go and finish third with the big two and how powerful they are and everything that goes with that, it's almost like winning the league for us."