Soccer
Josh Fowler double fires St Johnstone past Hibernian
Josh Fowler’s first-half double secured St Johnstone a 2-1 win over Hibernian and moved them above their opponents in the table.
Fowler netted from close range on 16 minutes then slotted home a penalty after Nathan Lowe had levelled for Hibs to secure Saints’ second win of the campaign.
The visitors were the better team in the second period but Simo Valakari’s team held on for a 2-1 success to move into seventh spot.
Fowler, who scored a late equaliser off the bench in midweek at Dundee, fully justified his return to the starting line-up.
The striker scored with the first chance of the contest. Hibs backed off Jason Holt, permitting the Perth captain to reach the 18-yard box and play in Taylor Steven, whose low cross took a nick off the heel of Adam Mayor and landed with Fowler at the back post.
The striker did well to adjust to the deflection and tuck a right-footed finish past Raphael Sallinger.
That good work was undone on 29 minutes by a slack Reece McAlear pass in centre of the park. Miguel Chaiwa sent Lowe sprinting clear and the on-loan Stoke forward placed a low shot between Toby Steward and his right-hand post.
Saints did well to shrug that mishap off and deservedly retook the lead four minutes from half-time.
Bosnian full-back Enes Alic drove into the penalty box and was nudged over by Martin Boyle. Fowler buried his fourth Premiership goal of the campaign to the bottom right, sending Sallinger the wrong way.
Fowler twice came close to a hat-trick early in the second period, before his 72nd-minute withdrawal.
But it was Hibs who looked most likely to score for large parts of the half.
Kanayo Megwa, who replaced injured Grant Hanley on the hour, met a corner with a powerful back-post header but Steward conjured a brilliant one-handed stop on his line.
Saints brought on Matty Todd and reverted to a back five to see off the threat, although there were some frantic moments of defending.
The hosts were grateful when sub Thibault Klidje struck a good chance off his own man Ante Suto.
Alic forced Sallinger into a fine save as Saints menaced on the break but Valakari’s men did enough to see out victory and condemn Hibs to back-to-back defeats.
