Shaun Maloney says he must “demand more” from his Hibernian team after their Scottish Premiership scoreless draw with St Johnstone extended their goalless run to three games.
Despite the barren run, the Easter Road side move up to fourth – pushing past Livingston on goal difference – despite only winning once in the league this year, and are now unbeaten in five.
“If we have serious aspirations of top six, top four, and next year fighting for top three, I have to demand more,” Maloney said.
“I think I have to be quite disappointed, with the second half particularly. That’s been the story for quite a few weeks now.
“We lost control of the game, definitely created less. Some of the substitutes had a more positive impact but overall I think I have to demand more.”
St Johnstone remain 11th, one point ahead of relegation rivals Dundee.
With both sets of attackers harmless instead of clinical, a goal appeared unlikely throughout. And while some managers and coaches would be delighted with the clean sheet, others would worry about the lack of goalscoring intent.
The first half, particularly, was devoid of noteworthy chances. Sylvester Jasper was the bright spark for the hosts but the on-loan Fulham youngster was not on the same wavelength as his fellow attackers.
The introduction of Elias Melkersen, making his home debut, allowed for some flickers of inspiration but he too was unable to break the deadlock.
Josh Doig had a chance to steal all three points when the ball dropped to him at the back post and he rasped a half-volley at goal, but it was deflected inches over the bar.
St Johnstone were unable to create much themselves, with Callum Hendry working tirelessly to poke and provoke the Hibs defence but ultimately nothing came from it.
The visitors were lucky to keep all 10 men on the pitch as Cammy MacPherson flew into Jake Doyle-Hayes, studs showing and foot off the ground, but Craig Napier deemed the tackle only worthy of a yellow.
Fortune also swayed the hosts’ way, with Hendry bundled over in the box but Napier waving play on.
Man of the match – Sylvester Jasper
What we learned
The biggest talking point came off the pitch, rather than on it. Hibs’ ‘Football for a Fiver’ campaign attracted a 20,000-plus crowd, with more than 2,000 travelling fans from Perth as well.
Four full stands at Easter Road, something not often seen, was pleasing to witness – even if the football was not.
Both sides lacked any confidence when they got into the final third. Hendry has been in good form for St Johnstone lately but he needs more support.
Martin Boyle is still Hibs’ top scorer with seven goals, despite having left in January. Melkersen might be the man to replace him, but he needs time to bed in – time Hibs do not necessarily have in the race for Europe.
What they said
Hibernian head coach Shaun Maloney: “There was no lack of effort, but at times a lack of quality. I did notice a drop in confidence towards the end.
“I need to give them a team to be proud of, and also to excite. At the moment we have a really good defensive foundation. In the last two games, we haven’t had the balance of very good defensively, and very good attack.”
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: “Both teams tried to have a go. It was a bit like a boxing match. We were sparring away and no one landed that punch.
“Other times, we might have gone away with a defeat so we’ll take the point and move on. The pleasing thing was how we defended. We didn’t concede many chances. They defended well today, put their bodies on the line.”
What’s next?
Hibs take on Motherwell in Scottish Cup quarter-final action next Sunday (18:30 GMT), while St Johnstone have a gap before hosting Motherwell on Saturday, 19 March (15:00).
Player of the match
ClarkZander Clark
Hibernian
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Squad number34Player nameMelkersen
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Squad number23Player nameAllan
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Squad number16Player nameStevenson
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Squad number3Player nameDoig
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Squad number30Player nameHauge
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Squad number20Player nameJasper
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Squad number21Player nameDabrowski
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Squad number27Player nameCadden
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Squad number80Player nameHenderson
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Squad number22Player nameDoyle-Hayes
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Squad number32Player nameCampbell
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Squad number8Player nameWright
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Squad number9Player nameDoidge
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Squad number5Player namePorteous
St Johnstone
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Squad number1Player nameClark
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Squad number29Player nameHallberg
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Squad number18Player nameMacPherson
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Squad number6Player nameGordon
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Squad number21Player nameCrawford
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Squad number14Player nameMiddleton
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Squad number22Player nameHendry
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Squad number5Player nameCleary
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Squad number27Player nameSang
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Squad number4Player nameMcCart
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Squad number2Player nameBrown
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Squad number3Player nameGallacher
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Squad number11Player nameO’Halloran
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Squad number16Player nameMahon
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Squad number23Player nameÇiftçi
Line-ups
Hibernian
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 21Dabrowski
- 27Cadden
- 5Porteous
- 3Doig
- 8WrightSubstituted forHaugeat 72′minutes
- 22Doyle-HayesBooked at 90mins
- 32Campbell
- 16Stevenson
- 80HendersonSubstituted forAllanat 59′minutesBooked at 74mins
- 20Jasper
- 9DoidgeSubstituted forMelkersenat 59′minutesBooked at 87mins
Substitutes
- 23Allan
- 24McGregor
- 25Scott
- 30Hauge
- 31Mitchell
- 34Melkersen
- 36Delferriere
- 39O’Connor
- 46Blaney
St Johnstone
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Clark
- 5ClearyBooked at 50mins
- 6Gordon
- 4McCartSubstituted forMahonat 85′minutes
- 27SangSubstituted forBrownat 20′minutesSubstituted forO’Halloranat 45′minutesBooked at 73mins
- 29Hallberg
- 18MacPhersonBooked at 54mins
- 3Gallacher
- 21Crawford
- 14MiddletonSubstituted forÇiftçiat 59′minutes
- 22Hendry
Substitutes
- 2Brown
- 7May
- 11O’Halloran
- 12Parish
- 15Gilmour
- 16Mahon
- 17Bair
- 23Çiftçi
- 34Butterfield
- Referee:
- Craig Napier
- Attendance:
- 19,585
Live Text
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Match ends, Hibernian 0, St. Johnstone 0.
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Second Half ends, Hibernian 0, St. Johnstone 0.
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Foul by Elias Hoff Melkersen (Hibernian).
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Liam Gordon (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Jake Doyle-Hayes (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Jake Doyle-Hayes (Hibernian).
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Michael O’Halloran (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Runar Hauge (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Nadir Çiftçi (St. Johnstone).
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Elias Hoff Melkersen (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Elias Hoff Melkersen (Hibernian).
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Nadir Çiftçi (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt missed. Chris Cadden (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by John Mahon.
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Attempt blocked. Josh Doig (Hibernian) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
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Substitution, St. Johnstone. John Mahon replaces Jamie McCart.
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Jake Doyle-Hayes (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Nadir Çiftçi (St. Johnstone).
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Attempt missed. Runar Hauge (Hibernian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Attempt missed. Cameron MacPherson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is too high. Assisted by Alister Crawford.