St Mirren 3-0 Hibs: Oisin Smyth scores double as Saints make perfect start to Scottish Premiership | Football news

St Mirren followed up their European excellence with domestic success, winning convincingly 3-0 against Hibernian in the Premiership.

After beating Icelandic side Valur 4-1 at home on Thursday to advance to the next qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, Stephen Robinson’s men continued their good form in their opening league match, with Roland Idowu, the 22-year-old midfielder on loan from Shrewsbury, giving them the lead just three minutes into the second half with a superb strike.

The element of farce emerged this afternoon when the VAR system stopped working shortly afterwards and play continued for some time before the system partially returned to service.

Saints substitute Oisin Smyth, who came on for Dennis Adeniran, headed in a second goal in the 77th minute and a third two minutes later to strengthen St Mirren’s lead ahead of a European return against SK Brann on Thursday, while sending David Gray’s men to Leith to think twice.

Perfect start to the season for Saints

The two sides went close early on, with Saints striker Jonah Ayunga’s low shot from the edge of the box after seven minutes going wide of Bursik’s far post before Hibs’ Jordan Obita’s cross from the left could not be converted by Easter Road striker Dylan Vente at the other end.

In the 35th minute, a powerful run by St Mirren striker Toyosi Olusanya took him to the edge of the Hibs penalty area and when he passed the ball to Idowu, his shot deflected wide of the post and the corner kick fell wide.

Moments later, former Hibernian player Alex Gogic almost headed into his own net a cross from 18-year-old Rudi Molotnikov, making his first-team appearance for Hibs, but the save was made by Buddies keeper Ellery Balcombe.

In the second half Paisley broke free from the trap.

Brown, who replaced Tanser at the break, passed the ball to Idowu on the left-hand side of the pitch who turned to Hibs defender Lewis Miller and passed the ball past Bursik, which fell into the far goal.

When it was announced that VAR was not working, there was a standing ovation throughout the stadium. After a long delay, it was announced that the match would continue without it until further notice.

Hibs responded, with striker Martin Boyle having two shots on goal – the first blocked, the second easily saved by Balcombe – before VAR was announced as partially back in action.

The game has started.

In the 73rd minute, Boyle outpaced the St Mirren defenders but his misdirected shot allowed Balcombe to save.

Idowu raced in from the right and fired a shot that came off the post from 15 yards while Smyth, signed from Oxford in June, failed to get the rebound into the net.

However, he was far more precise as his substitute colleague James Scott struggled to keep the ball on the end line and passed to Smyth, who headed home the winner.

With Hibs starting to wobble, Smyth converted Scott’s pass to secure the three points (10 minutes added on for a VAR delay) that leaves them in prime position for another European clash next week.

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