St Mirren go five unbeaten with 1-0 win at Hibernian

St Mirren have put themselves into contention for a Premiership top-six spot with a 1-0 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road.

Connor Ronan scored the only goal of the game as Jim Goodwin’s men moved within a point of sixth-placed Dundee United.

Only four points now separate St Mirren in ninth and Motherwell in fourth as the race for a place in the top half heats up.

The Paisley side are now five unbeaten with four wins, over Dundee United, Ayr, Aberdeen and now Hibs, and a draw, against Motherwell, since the turn of the year.

Hibs meanwhile are now without a win in five games with only a Scottish Cup win over Cove Rangers since the turn of the year.

They remain in fifth place with Aberdeen losing to Livingston and Dundee United drawing with second bottom St Johnstone.

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny was at the game and Goodwin has again tipped Ronan for international honours.

He said: “Connor doesn’t score bad goals and that’s another one – in front of the Irish manager as well so please God, that will do enough to get him in the set-up.

“I’ve been banging the drum long enough. I met Stephen Kenny there downstairs, I’m always talking up Connor in the press.

“He knows him well enough from the under-21s. I did mention to him not to forget that Joe Shaughnessy and Charlies Dunne are eligible as well.

“Jamie McGrath got that recognition for us and I would be delighted if Connor got it playing for us because it would certainly make my job a lot easier when we’re recruiting players, young up and coming players.

“They are going to get an opportunity here to flourish.”

Buddies goalkeeper Jak Alwnick twice denied Hibs substitute Ewan Henderson and then got down to Kevin Nisbet’s low drive as the home side searched for an equaliser.

Hibernian manager Shaun Maloney lamented their lack of cutting edge.

He said: “It’s a really disappointing result. For about 25 minutes in the second half we created more than enough opportunities to win the game and that’s the most frustrating thing.

“The result has to be different, but that’s the difference between taking your chances when you have them and being clinical.

“They had one chance from our throw-in that they take and it’s a really good finish.

“They had another action from a cross as well, but without that, the result should have been very different and that’s what is disappointing.”