Aiming to move off the foot of the table, Scottish Premiership basement dwellers Hibernian will take on St Mirren at the Easter Road Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts are 12th in the standings with just eight points from 11 outings, while the visitors are seventh in the table with 12 points from 12 league games.
Match preview
![Hibernian Manager David Gray during the Premier Sports Cup Group C match at Easter Road, Edinburgh UK against Peterhead on July 27, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/david-gray.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Hibernian Manager David Gray during the Premier Sports Cup Group C match at Easter Road, Edinburgh UK against Peterhead on July 27, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
Since their third-placed finish in the 2020-21 season, Hibernian have experienced a frustrating decline in the Scottish Premiership standings, finishing eighth in 2021-22, climbing slightly to fifth in 2022-23, only to drop back to eighth last season.
Former manager Nick Montgomery was dismissed late last season after failing to secure a top-six finish and enduring a heavy 4-0 defeat in his final game against Aberdeen, leading to David Gray's appointment as the permanent manager.
Gray, who has previously been had three stints as interim manager, has failed to uplift the side following Montgomery's departure, with Hibs suffering a dismal opening to the 2024-25 season.
Hibernian struggled in their first four league matches, with two losses and two draws, before finally claiming a win against St Johnstone, however, they have failed to secure a victory in the six games since.
With pressure mounting on Gray as Hibernian remain at the foot of the table, the manager urgently needs to start delivering results, but a recently rejuvenated St Mirren could present another tough challenge.
The visitors began the season with two wins and two draws in their first four games across all competitions, but a first defeat of the season to Aberdeen sparked a period of poor form for the Saints.
Since that initial defeat, they have secured just two wins in the following 12 games, defeating Hearts 2-1 and St Johnstone 3-1, alongside three draws and seven losses.
Stephen Robinson, who has been in charge since February 2022, appears to have turned their form around in recent matches, however, with St Mirren securing one win and one draw in their last two games.
Aiming for their fourth league win of the season, which could lift them into the top six depending on other results, Robinson's side will look to replicate their 3-0 victories in the last two meetings of this fixture.
Team News
![Stephen Robinson of St Mirren during the UEFA Europa Conference League Second Qualifying Round Second Leg match at the SMISA Stadium, Paisley, on August 1, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/stephen-robinson.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Stephen Robinson of St Mirren during the UEFA Europa Conference League Second Qualifying Round Second Leg match at the SMISA Stadium, Paisley, on August 1, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
Hibernian will be without Kieron Bowie for this match, as the forward is not expected to return from the hamstring injury he sustained during the September international break until early next year.
Mykola Kukharevych is also ruled out of Saturday's clash after receiving two yellow cards in just 13 minutes against Dundee United last time out, including conceding the penalty from which Dundee Utd equalised in the 90th minute, resulting in a suspension for this match.
Having come within minutes of securing a vital three points in that last outing, Gray could opt to name a similar lineup for Saturday's game.
As for the visitors, Alex Iacovitti is set to remain on the treatment table until at least December due to a tendon injury that has kept him out of the side since early September.
Charles Dunne also remains a doubt after the defender was forced off before halftime in the 3-1 win against St Johnstone and was subsequently absent from the matchday squad in the draw with Ross County.
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Miller, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita; Kwon, Triantis, Newell; Boyle, McKirdy, Hoilett
St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Balcombe; Fraser, Gogic, Taylor; Bwomono, Phillips, O'Hara, Tanser; Scott, Olusanya, Kiltie
We say: Hibernian 1-2 St Mirren
While the hosts are in desperate need of points in their aims to move away from the bottom of the table, the visitors have enjoyed back-to-back positive results heading into this one, and we believe that will continue with a win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
