Saints v Hibs preview

Last updated : 18 April 2014 By Stuart Gillespie

The roar when Steven Thompson bagged the winner against the Steelmen was probably one of the loudest there's been since we moved grounds just over five years ago. From the reaction at the end you'd have thought that was enough to ensure we are playing top flight football next season. Sadly, that is not the case and we still have five extremely hard and important games coming up. We need to keep backing the team same way and the players need to keep performing the way they did for about the last hour of the game.

We are at the stage of the season known as squeaky bum time. It's going to be nervy, it's going to be frantic and it's things are almost certainly not going to be settled until the final day. Arguably we go into the split in the best mood of the teams roundabout us as they all lost in their final games before the break. The fact we won - and in dramatic circumstances - should have put a spring in our step. Now we need to build on that and keep putting points on the board to ensure our season doesn't require an unwelcome extension.

We've managed to beat Hibs this season, something that was long overdue as we'd only managed it once before during Pat Fenlon's time in charge. Even more surprising was the fact it came at Easter Road, somewhere we hardly ever manage to win. We cruised the first half that day before trying to throw things away late on, although unlike the game against Dundee United at Tannadice we did manage to hold on. A repeat of the first half - for the whole 90 minutes this time - is what will be needed tomorrow if we are to have any hope of avoiding the dreaded relegation play-off.

It's hard trying to guess the team these days. The one that started against Motherwell probably wasn't the right one as we had absolutely no width, the likes of Gary Teale, Gregg Wylde and Adam Campbell all starting as subs. Wylde had an early introduction after Paul McGowan got injured and impressed, so deserves a start even if Gowser is back from injury. Aside from the winger coming into the team - it's hard to guess who for if McGowan is it - there's unlikely to be any other changes to the outfield players.

There is likely to be a change of goalie though - and don't worry, Paul Mathers isn't replacing Christopher Dilo! Marian Kello is due to be back, the  fortnight off coming at the perfect time for him to get back to full fitness. Admittedly, he'd been looking a bit shaky before his injury so hopefully the break will have done him some good. Aside from rushing out for Motherwell's first goal Dilo did fairly well last time out, but I'm sure we'd all be more confident with Kello back. His return means we're only without Stephane Bahoken. Is he still even one of our players?

The media worked themselves into something of a frenzy when Terry Butcher swapped Inverness Caley Thistle for Hibs. Here was the man to finally transform them and have the men from Leith flying along in the top half of the league. Gone were the dour days of Colin Calderwood and Pat Fenlon, Butcher's bubbly style would soon have things clicking. It hasn't quite worked out like that as they've barely improved since he took over and amusingly have a chance of following rivals Hearts into the Championship In fairness to Butcher he is mainly working with Fenlon's squad and won't be properly judged until next season, but it's funny how he is getting less slack on the basis that he's a nice bloke.

One of the few players Butcher brought in during January was Daniel Boateng. He arrived on loan from Arsenal to play in a defence that has been rather shaky at times - and whether the possible return of James McPake will fix that remains to be seen. Paul Hanlon is also out, while Ryan McGivern is suspended. Jordan Foster will probably line-up alongside Michael Nelson, with veteran Alan Maybury also getting a run out. Sadly for us they don't have a dodgy keeper these days as Ben Williams is pretty handy, which may explain partly why we don't beat Hibs as often as we used to!

On the plus side they don't have Leigh Griffiths any more either. They won't be able to use Paul Heffernan either as he is out until the summer, meaning supposedly big money signing James Collins is the only experienced striker available. Danny Handling has shown a bit of talent at times, while Ross Caldwell was punted out on loan after amusingly - or stupidly depending on your point of view - trying to pick a fight with Butcher after being subbed shortly after he came on against Ross County in the cup. They have some loan forwards of their own in Notts County's Danny Haynes, who looks a bit erratic, and Sunderland's Duncan Whatmore, who seems to have a decent pedigree. They also have youngster Jason Cummings who Butcher likes the look of.

It's one of their midfield youngsters who seems to be impressing most at the moment though. Sam Stanton - no relation to club legend Pat - likes to get forward and is fantastic at free-kicks. He certainly looks like a star of the future, as does winger Alex Harris, although he's struggled to recapture the form he displayed last season now that he's recovered from injury. The same could be said for Paul Cairney, while both Kevin Thomson and Tom Taiwo have been told to do one. That hasn't stopped Butcher playing them though, Taiwo forcing his way back into the team before being sent off. One midfielder Butcher does like is Liam Craig, who was appointed captain shortly after the change of manager. Craig has scored some goals and has hurt us in the past so we need to watch out for him. Lewis Stevenson has done well this season but Owain Tudur Jones has had a few injuries lately. Scott Robertson has also had injury problems but could be fit enough to play while Abdellah Zoubir has barely featured, regardless of the manager.

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