“RYAN who?” quipped Hibernian manager Lee Johnson after watching his team shut out St Mirren to claim a narrow 1-0 win at The SMiSA Stadium. It was a result that was built upon a defensively resolute performance, adorned by a fabulous second-half winner from Elie Youan.
Hibs have now conceded just one goal in the three matches since they lost Ryan Porteous to Watford, and Johnson is still smarting from that one, believing goalkeeper David Marshall was fouled as Ross County’s Yan Dhanda floated a corner all the way into his net during the week.
It is a curious and welcome turn for the Hibees, who had been shipping goals for fun prior to last week’s demolition of Aberdeen at Easter Road. In the seven games prior to that 6-0 win since returning from the World Cup break, 17 of them had flown past Marshall.
It is the presence of the players Johnson has brought in though rather than the absence of Porteous that best explains the turnaround though, with the impressive Will Fish outstanding once again at centre-back alongside Paul Hanlon.
It had appeared for a while that Fish might not be long for this parish, with rumours of his loan move from Manchester United being cut short due to a lack of game time in the first half of the season. He has now cemented his place at the heart of the Hibs defence though, oozing class and composure beyond his 19 years.
Curtis Main was missing his partner in crime in the Saints attack, the injured Jonah Ayunga, but even still, the Hibs defence was only really stretched on one occasion as an error from Aiden McGeady gave Main a sight of goal. He blazed it over, and neither he nor substitute Tony Watt really had much of a sniff thereafter.
January arrival Jimmy Jeggo has also undoubtedly contributed to the solidifying of the Hibs’ spine, the midfielder screening in front of the defence expertly and getting his foot in where it hurts, allowing Joe Newell to concentrate on getting his foot on the ball.
CJ Egan-Riley looks a more than handy acquisition at right-back too. The on-loan Burnley man was flying up and down the flank all afternoon. On the other side of the backline, veteran Lewis Stevenson’s performance may not have been quite as dynamic, but his experience was vital.
Solid and dependable may not be adjectives you would historically associate with the Hibs defence as a whole, but when it does come time for Stevenson to hang up his boots, they will no doubt be the epitaph to his long Easter Road career.
The 35-year-old has now overtaken Arthur Duncan’s league appearance record for the club, lining up for his 450th league match here, collecting a commemorative jersey from his manager to mark the occasion along with the three points.
His longevity has been remarkable, as has his service to Hibs, particularly when you consider he felt he might never make it at the club at all as a youngster.
“Back then I wasn’t sure what was going to happen,” Stevenson said.
“I’ve played 565 games – I think - for Hibs but back then my family said, ‘look, you’re not going to play a lot of games.’
“So, I was all set to study politics at Dundee Uni. That summer [2005] I went to Magaluf with my mates and I was at the airport buying loads of cigarettes – when you could do that – to sell them on.
“The kitman saw me and was going to grass me up to the manager at the time, who was Tony Mowbray, but he didn’t. So I owe it to Tam McCourt for not telling, and the rest is history.”
How long that love affair with Hibs can continue is in the hands of the club, with Stevenson insisting his legs are still willing if his manager still wants him around beyond the summer.
“My contract is up at the end of the season, and I don’t know what’s happening,” he said.
“When you get to 35 it’s a lot harder to get a new one-year deal. But I’m open to anything and I’d love to stay here for as long as possible.
“But I do get that the club needs to move on and evolve – you might not want to have a 35-year-old playing at left-back. So, we’ll see what happens.
“But if it is not here, I want to play football for as long as possible.
“I think I’m enjoying it as much as I ever have throughout my career. You think, when you’re getting near the end, you have to try to enjoy it more. Even on wet and windy days like Saturday, I still feel it is an honour to play for a club like Hibs.
“Hopefully I can continue doing it for a wee bit longer.”
