Josh Fowler (left) scored twice in the first half for St JohnstoneImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Josh Fowler (left) scored twice in the first half for St Johnstone

At a glance

  • Fowler's scores first-half double for St Johnstone

  • Hibs had equalised through Lowe's first league goal

  • Perth side win back-to-back home games but pressure mounts on Gray

ByAmy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park

Josh Fowler's first-half double made it back-to-back home Scottish Premiership victories for St Johnstone as they leapfrogged a lacklustre Hibernian in Perth, cranking pressure up on head coach David Gray.

The striker turned in Taylor Steven's cute pass to spark a drab game into life, before restoring the hosts' lead from the spot after Martin Boyle clumsily fouled Enes Alic in the box.

Nathan Lowe - at long last - netted his first league goal for Hibs to temporarily haul Gray's side level, but they failed to kick on from there and were booed off by the travelling fans at half-time.

They rallied around their team in the second half as they pushed for an equaliser - coming closest through Kanayo Megwa's close-range header which was superbly saved by Toby Steward - but returned to voicing their displeasure at the end.

No stranger to critics, Gray appears to have a heap of them at this time after an Edinburgh derby defeat and a painful Conference League play-off exit.

They will only grow in the aftermath of this aimless showing at McDiarmid Park.

St Johnstone analysis: Steven stars for Saints

As he did midweek, Simo Valakari stressed the importance of a positive result here over a performance. This time though, he got it. And it was incredibly deserved.

The Perthshire Saints have returned to the top-flight with a bit of swagger about them and already have had some suggesting they could ruffle a few feathers and cause teams a heap of problems.

One man who certainly did that on Sunday was Steven.

The winger caused Felix Passlack all kinds of problems with his blistering pace and crossing ability. On another afternoon, he'd of had a hat-trick of assists.

How Fowler didn't leave with the match ball is a bit of a mystery after he spurned a glorious clear sight at goal in the second-half. Perhaps Steven's ball was too quick, too good.

He won't sniff at a double, though as it helped St Johnstone win their first two home games of a Premiership season since 2017-18.

Graphic

Hibernian analysis: Confusion reigns

Hibs are so confusing.

Minutes away from a first European league phase campaign before a calamitous capitulation against Gent, they reacted with an eye-catching performance at Dundee, only to then fall to defeat at home to Hearts.

Now add this disjointed showing and it is a struggle to understand what is going on.

They were looking for their fifth away win in a row in the league - a feat last achieved in 2005.

Given Gray spoke of the hurt and hunger from Thursday's derby loss, and the desire to atone for it, you would have thought they'd be well-set for achieving it. But they were never at it.

There was some unexplainable defending from Jason Kerr to allow Fowler his first, before Boyle bundled into the back of Alic. Lowe still misses more than he scores.

In the middle of the park, Jamie McGrath carried them single-handly, with Jacob Devaney struggling on the ball.

Pre-match, Gray spoke of their lightness in defence with Jordan Obita injured and deadline day signing Marko Ivezic unavailable. A sore-looking injury to Grant Hanley compounded that, leaving Megwa at centre-half at the end of the game.

When the players went over to greet the very few fans left, they were met with a cacophony of boos which pierced through the jubilant cheers in the home crowd.

Gray cut a lonely figure as he headed down the tunnel, with more questions than answers surely burling in his mind.

What they said

Figure caption,

Hibs fans frustration 'justifiable' - Gray

St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari: "We've built up the team to play this way. It would be very stupid and naive to move away from our style because it is our strength. But, at the same time, we need to be able to hide our weaknesses.

"Today, in the second half, we didn't want to go that deep and defend our box but we needed to do it to get the result.

"They are a very good Hibs side. We needed something concrete to back up our performances, that's why this feels like a big result. We worked so hard last season to come up to the Premiership and play these matches."

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "Again there's real frustration, disappointment and anger. St Johnstone didn't have to work too hard to score two goals.

"In the first half there was a real lack of intent and aggression. Second half we huffed and puffed but I'm not going to be making excuses for how we started.

"It's a responsibility across the board. You can't give away two goals like that and not come under criticism and I know it is my responsibility.

"You can feel sorry for yourselves or you can look for that responsibility. We need everybody together and pulling in the right direction."

Player of the match

Number: 9 J. Fowler
Average rating 8.14
Number: 9 J. Fowler
Average Rating: 8.14
Number: 5 Z. Mitchell
Average Rating: 8.05
Number: 7 T. Steven
Average Rating: 7.90
Number: 3 C. Diabate
Average Rating: 7.68
Number: 2 E. Alić
Average Rating: 7.57
Number: 8 J. Holt
Average Rating: 7.40
Number: 1 T. Steward
Average Rating: 7.35
Number: 11 S. Stanton
Average Rating: 7.32
Number: 33 L. Smith
Average Rating: 7.20
Number: 18 K. Fotheringham
Average Rating: 7.14
Number: 42 R. McAlear
Average Rating: 6.95
Number: 30 J. Cotterill
Average Rating: 6.55
Number: 22 D. Schmidt
Average Rating: 6.15
Number: 10 J. Gullan
Average Rating: 6.05
Number: 25 M. Tait
Average Rating: 6.05
Number: 26 M. Todd
Average Rating: 5.95

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.