By Hibernian FC

In what was a historic night for Scottish football, Hibs fell to defeat as the Perth side scored two goals after Kyle Magennis saw red for two bookable offences.

It was a momentous night at Easter Road with VAR being introduced for the first time in the cinch Premiership.

That excitement was echoed by a sell-out crowd. The Club’s Friday night football initiative was incredibly backed by the Hibernian faithful who packed the terraces and took advantage of the special ticket offering.

There were around 19,500 Hibs fans inside Easter Road for the game – the highest number inside our home ground in 33 years!

Lee Johnson made three changes to his starting XI as he looked to push wing-backs high up the pitch to create attacking opportunities against St Johnstone’s deep block.

Rocky Bushiri, Marijan Čabraja, and Magennis were brought into the starting XI with Lewis Stevenson, Nohan Kennah and Harry McKirdy all on the bench. This was Magennis’ first start for the Club in over a year.

Johnson got the tempo he wanted at the start and two big chances fell to Mykola Kuharevich in the opening two minutes. Hibs took advantage of a quick free-kick slipping Martin Boyle down the right hand-side. His slightly scuffed cross fell into the path of the Ukrainian striker, but his effort was saved at the near post.

About 30 seconds later, the exact same chance fell to the 21 year-old. This time Cadden found room on the right and fed the ball to the striker, but again, he was denied at the near post.

Eight minutes in and VAR was in action for the first time – with the whole of Scotland watching on eagle-eyed. Martin Boyle went down in the area under a challenge from a defender, but was booked by the referee, Kevin Clancy, for simulation. He went to his ear to check with the Video Assistant Referee, who confirmed he made the correct call, so there was no need for the pitchside monitor to be used.

Kuharevich – determined to get his first goal for Hibs – was involved again on the 13th minute. He received the ball from Boyle on the edge of the area, chose to go on his own, but curled a left-footed effort well over the bar.

It took our opponents until the 20-minute mark to have their first opening, albeit a 20-yard effort from Connor McLennan that went well wide of David Marshall’s goal. The Perth side continued to create half openings, but our defence held firm.

The fast-paced start to the game slowed down and chances were few and far between around the half-hour mark with Magennis coming closest, firing over from 20 yards out.

Finally, in the 35th minute, Hibs had their breakthrough and it came through Mykola Kuharevich.

His hard work paid off as he leapt highest to get on the end of Chris Cadden’s cross and perfectly guided a header into the back of the net – his first goal for the Club!

The goal was checked for a possible foul in the build-up, but again the VAR referee agreed with the on-field decision and adjudged that the goal should stand. The first major use of the new technology in the Scottish domestic game.

Seven minutes later, Boyle almost grabbed Hibs’ second. He received the ball on the edge of the area and went past a defender but was denied by the big right hand of St Johnstone ‘keeper Remi Matthews.

St Johnstone made a change at the break as they looked to get back into the game bringing on Stevie May in place of Adam Montgomery, but the Hibees continued their dominance and stayed well in control of the proceedings.

In the 56th minute that patient play almost paid off. A nice sequence of passing through the lines led to Čabraja being released down the left. He curled a brilliant ball across the six-yard box, which was poked goalwards by Boyle who got across his man, but unfortunately his effort went into the side netting.

On the 62nd minute, Kuharevich received a standing ovation for his hard work and goal by the 19,500 Hibs fans in attendance as he was replaced by Élie Youan.

Immediately after the change, a great chance fell to Magennis. He was slipped into the box after a fine pass from Newell but couldn’t beat the ‘keeper from a tight angle.

Newell was really in his flow, dictating from deep, and set up another opening just minutes later. This time his beautiful, curling pass released Boyle in the box. He cut the ball back to Youan – on the penalty spot – but the Frenchman’s left-footed effort was denied by Matthews.

In the 70th minute Hibs were reduced to 10-men. A moment that completely swung the game as Magennis received two yellow cards in the space of 17-minutes, the second was a crunching tackle on former Hibee Jamie Murphy.

Just two minutes after the red card St Johnstone equalised. Clark rose highest to meet a corner and powered a header past David Marshall.

A quick stop from Marshall and an unbelievable block from Paul Hanlon stopped the Perth side from grabbing a second with just 10 minutes to go. May broke the offside trap and had an initial effort saved before Hanlon’s goal-saving block stopped McLennan from tapping in from three-yards out.

The away side’s pressure paid off and they eventually took the lead. Substitute May met a whipped cross into the box and head the ball past Marshall.

That goal led to a double change from Johnson with Jair Tavares and McKirdy coming on to add attacking firepower replacing Cadden and Čabraja.

Tavares was almost involved in a game changing moment right at the end. The winger was slipped through the back-line, rounded the goalkeeper, and looked to be brought down in the box. The referee pointed to the penalty spot, before the linesman raised his off-side flag. The offside was checked by VAR and was correct by the tightest of margins.

Despite the continuous endeavour from the 10-men of Hibs, they were unable to create any other meaningful chances towards the end of the game and fell to defeat.

Hibs Starting XI

Marshall; Čabraja (Tavares, ), Hanlon, Rocky, Porteous, Cadden (McKirdy); Newell, Campbell, Magennis; Boyle, Kuharevich (Youan, 62’)

Unused Subs

Schofield; Kenneh, Stevenson, Henderson, Mitchell, Fish

St Johnstone Starting XI

Matthews; Montgomery (May, 46’), Considine, Gordon, Mitchell (Murphy, 63’), Brown (Gallacher, 90’); Hallberg, McGowan (Crawford, 90’); McLennan, Clark, Wright (Wotherspoon, 64’)

Unused Subs

Parish; Blair, Kucheriavyi, Phillips