Hibs head coach Jack Ross and St Mirren counterpart Jim Goodwin resisted the temptation to hand any of their new recruits a full debut.

The hosts had deadline day arrivals Paul McGinn, Marc McNulty and Greg Docherty on the bench, while Lee Hodson and Alex Jakubiak were also listed as substitutes.

Saints took the lead in the 14th minute when McCarthy met Cammy MacPherson's corner to bullet a header past Ofir Marciano from close range.

The Paisley outfit's afternoon got even better when Andreu doubled their lead. Ilkay Durmus raced clear of David Gray into the area and his low pass was swept first time into the net by the Frenchman.

The home supporters were stunned but Ross' side responded seven minutes later. Martin Boyle got to the byline and his cut back was stroked first time into the net by Allan.

Hibs drew level two minutes before the break when Doidge netted his 15th of the campaign.

Stephane Omeonga dug out a cross from the left and the striker angled a header beyond Vaclav Hladky.

McGinn was brought on for Gray at the break to make his Hibs debut but there was brief panic for the hosts when Marciano spilled Durmus' low cross, before  the Israeli managed to smother the ball with Andreu ready to pounce.

Ross also brought on Docherty and McNulty and, just before he was taken off, home winger Daryl Horgan flashed a left-footed drive just wide.

In his last act before being replaced by Cody Cooke, Junior Morais also glanced a header just past Marciano's post.

McGinn was denied a debut goal in the 70th minute when his header inside the box from Allan's set-piece was expertly tipped around the post by Hladky.

Boyle then watched a deflected shot drift just wide of the post after the Australian international pounced onto Sam Foley's attempted header back to his keeper.