Nicky Clark's penalty put St Johnstone aheadSNS

Nicky Clark's penalty put St Johnstone ahead

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Simo Valakari says 10-man St Johnstone "take confidence" from their draw with Hibernian despite falling five points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men on 41 minutes when Jason Holt's sliding challenge on Chris Cadden was upgraded from a yellow card to red after referee Lloyd Wilson was sent to the monitor to review his decision.

But Valakari's side stunned the visitors in first-half stoppage time when captain Nicky Clark sent Jordan Smith the wrong way from the spot after Rocky Bushiri fouled Jack Sanders in the penalty box.

Martin Boyle thought he had got Hibs level when he fired beyond Josh Rae, but the goal was disallowed because the offside Junior Hoilett had helped the ball on.

With time running out, Dwight Gayle earned David Gray's side a point - and extended their unbeaten run to five games - when he sidefooted Nectarios Triantis' header beyond Rae.

"The performance, attitude, desire, I can't ask more from the players," Saints manager Valakari said.

"Today we couldn't hold it but this gives us confidence.

"The players are disappointed with the point because they felt we were holding on well to the lead. We will take the positives, learn and be ready for Sunday."

Struggling Saints show grit

Valakari's side are now six games without a win but put in a solid shift, particularly in the first half, and looked like a side with renewed confidence.

Despite Holt's sending off, the hosts found themselves in front at the break and it was probably deserved for their performance in attack and defence.

They clung on to that lead until the closing stages and showed plenty of fighting spirit.

Although Hibs created the better chances in the second half and substitute Gayle eventually found the leveller, St Johnstone at least ended their four-game losing run.

Hibs fight back for important point

If you're not going to win a game, you better not lose it, and that's what Hibs demonstrated in Perth.

After going behind practically on the half-time whistle, Gray's side found a way back into the game and, on the balance of the second half, will be frustrated not to take all three points back to Edinburgh.

But after results elsewhere, Hibs will continue looking up the table with just two points separating them from Motherwell in sixth spot.

Next up, though, is a visit from Rangers where the Easter Road men will need to put in a much-improved performance in front of goal.

What they said

Hibernian manager David Gray: "A point on the road is by no means a disaster but probably feels like it because you're playing against 10 men for a long period of time.

"We're still unbeaten in five games so there's positives to take."

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "We need calms heads. Because we didn't win, the gap has got bigger but sometimes you have to look behind the point.

"It was a testament to the spirit and desire in the team, which will take us out of this situation."

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