Hibs celebrate a dramatic late winner at Easter Road

An own goal from Jack Ross in time added on gave Hibs their second last-gasp win over St Mirren this season.

Hibs keeper Graeme Smith made a great early save to deny Billy Mehmet before home defender Sol Bamba diverted a cross into his own net on nine minutes.

Mehmet shot wide with the goal gaping before Hibs levelled when Liam Miller raced through to finish in style.

Hibs dominated after the break and St Mirren were finally undone when Ross headed into his own net.

Easter Road will not be on St Mirren fans' list of favourite grounds, having seen their team fall to a late Abdessalam Benjelloun goal on the opening day of the campaign.

On that occasion the Buddies also scored first but were pegged back and failed to hang on.

Hibs, who have strengthened their grip on third place, have made a bad habit of starting sluggishly but they have also found a knack for scoring late to win games, as they did at Celtic Park on Wednesday.

On two minutes, a quick corner from Ross caught the home side cold and Garry Brady picked out Mehmet in the six-yard box only to see Smith make a wonderful point-blank save, while Hugh Murray could only knock the rebound over from close range.

Hibs were looking jittery and disjointed and fell behind soon after when Bamba stuck out a leg to divert a Steven Robb cross into his own net

The Ivory Coast defender, who only flew back to Edinburgh from Africa this week after over a month away, was under little pressure but did not appear to get a shout from the stunned Smith.

St Mirren should have increased their lead when Brady's back-post cross was headed down by Michael Higdon to Mehmet, who side-footed wide from 14 yards, with the goal gaping.

Hibs were presented with a great opportunity to level when a bobbling ball deceived the Saints defence but both Chris Hogg and Bamba failed to convert from close range amid a furious goalmouth scramble.

The home fans were growing restless at the number of misplaced passes but were celebrating a goal out of the blue on 33 minutes.

St Mirren left-back David Barron allowed a long ball to bounce and was then out-muscled by Colin Nish, allowing Miller to nick the ball off his team-mate's toes and race through to place a composed strike beyond Paul Gallacher.

The first half closed with Nish slamming a shot against the post after connecting with an excellent David Wotherspoon delivery. The big striker was first to the loose ball but could only scoop his second effort over the crossbar.

Nish hit another shot too high early in the second half after an effort from Anthony Stokes had been blocked.

John Rankin then had a good sight of goal but the Hibs midfielder's shot from 15 yards lacked fizz and Gallacher got down to make the save.

Leading goal-scorer Stokes was having a very quiet game but burst into life to whip a great cross on to the head of Nish, who could not find the target from a promising position.

With St Mirren dropping deeper and deeper, Stokes then saw his rasping shot expertly saved by Gallacher after a good knock down from Nish.

Benjelloun, on as a late replacement for Stokes, sent Derek Riordan scampering towards goal but Barron got back to make a super challenge, taking the sting out of the shot, which floated into the arms of Gallacher.

The busy Benjelloun then blazed a venomous delivery into the danger zone but Nish could not direct his header on target from six yards.

Hibs continued to pour forward and were rewarded for their efforts when Ross had the misfortune to head a cross from Ian Murray into his own net.

Hibernian manager John Hughes:

"We got fortunate. I really feel for St Mirren because they put so much into the game.

"Second half, we played most of the game in their half but we need to be slicker than that.

"But after the week we've had, it's always draining after games at the Old Firm, I'm delighted to pick up three points."

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson:

"It's extremely frustrating to lose at that stage of the game.

"It was open; with both teams looking to win the game and I thought we defended really well.

"I have to praise the players for their effort and commitment and, if they continue to work as hard, we'll be okay.

"There are some occasions in football when you don't get what you deserve."

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