VAR would play its part in a hugely entertaining game with two first half decisions – ruling out a Mykola Kuharevich effort that had been given before we were awarded a late penalty for a handball. Martin Boyle duly dispatched it.
We were fully deserving of our half-time advantage and made sure of the victory after the break thanks to two stunning goals from Kuharevich and Ewan Henderson.
Boss Lee Johnson made two changes from last weekend with Henderson and Nohan Kenneh starting in midfield.
Josh Campbell dropped to the bench whilst Kyle Magennis missed out altogether through suspension following his red card against St Johnstone.
The visitors went with an unchanged side following their 2-1 victory over Dundee United seven days ago as manager Stephen Robinson sought his first ever victory over us at Easter Road.
Both sides went into the contest knowing they could potentially go third in the cinch Premiership with victory this afternoon - coupled with Aberdeen slipping up at Ibrox against Rangers.
We certainly made an energetic start to the match and thought we had an early breakthrough when Joe Newell split the visiting defence with a pass for Marijan Cabraja down the left and his first time cross was thumped home by Kuharevich.
Unfortunately, our celebrations would be cut short after a VAR review determined Cabraja had made his run a little too early and crossed from an offside position.
We kept up the early pressure and a wonderful incisive move ended with Ryan Porteous volleying inches wide of the far post with an angled effort after a cute flick on from the impressive Newell.
St Mirren, to their credit, came to attack and wonderful stepover from Keanu Baccus created enough space to get away from Rocky and sending a low drive towards the far corner of the net that David Marshall brilliantly pushed around his far post.
The match was being played at breakneck speed as we quickly moved up the other end where Henderson whipped in a fantastic delivery with pace that was met on the volley by Boyle at the back post, only for Trevor Carson to deny him with a wonderful stop.
A pass from Cabraja was almost punished by the visitors on 23 minutes when Charles Dunne intercepted and threaded the ball through to Curtin Main, who was denied by a fine stop from Marshall.
Quick thinking from the goalkeeper moments later allowed us to counterattack down the left following a St Mirren corner kick. His pass released Boyle, who in turn, flicked it round the corner to Henderson on the overlap and his curling effort was just wide of the far post.
Chances continued to come thick and fast with Kenneh fizzing a terrific half-volley just wide of Carson’s far post.
With the first half drawing to a close both Chris Cadden and Richard Tait saw efforts drift just off target as the game appeared to be heading into the break at stalemate.
Then, in time added on, VAR identified a handball in the St Mirren box and after checking the footage himself, referee Don Robertson awarded us a spot kick that Boyle dispatched clinically to put us head.
The goal must have sickened Robinson and his side as they returned determined to restore parity with Ethan Erhahon testing Marshall with an early freekick.
Disappointingly, Boyle was unable to shake off a knock he picked up moments earlier and limped off to be replaced by Elias Melkersen.
The loss of our talisman did little to impact our attacking play and we went close to a second goal when Kuharevich stabbed just wide from a cut back.
The big striker was a constant thorn in the side of the St Mirren defence this afternoon and on the hour mark he got the goal his overall play merited as he rolled Alex Gogic before bending a wonderful finish past the helpless Carson.
Four minutes later it was 3-0. Kenneh was brave and tenacious to win the ball and withstand a couple of strong challenges before finding Melkersen on the left, the striker’s shot was blocked yet the rebound fell kindly for Henderson who smashed it into the roof of the net.
At 3-0 the game was somewhat a dead rubber and the play on the park reflected that with little of note happening thereafter.
That said, St Mirren did have a late chance to grab a consolation goal only for former Hibee Gogic head wide from Erhahon’s corner kick as Marshall and his defence notched another cleansheet.
In the end, a terrific performance from the boys to grab all three points and bounce back from recent disappointments.
Hibernian: Marshall, Porteous (Fish 78’), Rocky, Hanlon, Cadden, Kenneh, Newell, Henderson (Campbell 68’), Cabraja (Stevenson 78’), Boyle (Melkersen 54’), Kuharevich (Youan 78’). Substitutes not used: Schofield, Jair, McGregor, Aiken.
St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne (Henderson 81’), Strain (Flynn 72’), Baccus (Kiltie 72’), Erhahon, O’Hara, Tait (Shaughnessy 46’), Ayunga (Greive 70’), Main. Substitutes not used: Urminsky, Kenny, Reid, Brophy.
Referee: Don Robertson.
Attendance: 15,256.
