Hibs' big night at Easter Road ultimately ended in disappointment as they lost out 2-1 to St Johnstone in Premiership action.
Mykola Kukharevych put them into a half-time lead and it was all going well in front of the club's biggest home attendance in over 30 years, thanks to it being a historic match with VAR's introduction and ticket prices being reduced. But it turned into a calamitous second half as they failed to take their chances before the game flipped after a controlled hour.
Kyle Magennis was making his first start since 2021 but was booked twice and was sent off, with Nicky Clark levelling up soon after. Stevie May then nodded Saints into a lead and they held onto that until full-time as they ruined Hibs' bigged up Friday night football offering, not before VAR ruled out a penalty won by Martin Boyle for Jair Tavares being offside. Here are three things we learned from the Hibs loss.
Momentum swing
Manager Lee Johnson spoke in the aftermath of the three things that cost his team and it's hard to disagree with his assessment.
First of all they didn't score clear chances, Magennis' dismissal just about tipped things and an inability to deal with two crosses ultimately dealt an untimely blow.
Contrasting streaks
After a five-game winning run in the league, Hibs now find themselves on a three-match stretch of defeats, a Jekyll and Hyde scenario.
It makes next week's match against top six-chasing St Mirren at home big before a trip to Aberdeen on November 4th.
VAR arrives
History was made as the refereeing tech arrived in Scottish football for the first time. It's highly controversial but it was a good opening night for it.
All the calls it was used for were dealt with it correctly and delays after goals were minimal, albeit that is going to be a novelty for the first few matches.
READ NEXT:
- Joe Newell hopes Hibs hand Ryan Porteous contract extension as he blasts 'witch hunt'
- Lee Johnson urges Ryan Porteous Hibs stay as he hails 'spiritual leader' with contract on table
- Ryan Porteous' Hibs future latest with 'strong' contract offered reveals Lee Johnson
