Preview: St Johnstone vs. Hibernian - prediction, team news, lineups

The Saints parted company with Callum Davidson following last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Livingston, while Hibs returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Hearts.

Match preview

Steven MacLean will be looking for a big response from his players as St Johnstone aim to revive their season in front of the McDiarmid Park faithful on Saturday.

Callum Davidson was sacked last weekend after the Saints suffered three successive defeats without scoring, with a winless run of two draws and four losses forcing the club's hierarchy to make a managerial change.

Not only have the Saints failed to win any of their last six league matches, but they have also failed to win 13 of their previous 15, suffering 11 defeats in the process.

As a result, the Perth outfit find themselves just four points outside of the bottom two and five points clear of the automatic relegation spot, with only six games left to steer clear of the dreaded drop zone.

Unfortunately for St Johnstone, they hold the worst home record in the division, having taken just 12 points from a possible 45 at McDiarmid Park this term, with six defeats coming in their previous seven home league games.

When Hibernian notched a seven-match unbeaten streak across January and March - picking up five wins and two draws along the way - it looked as if Lee Johnson's men would push for a European spot.

However, a subsequent four-game losing run halted the Hibbies' progress, with defeats to Rangers, Celtic, Motherwell and Dundee United almost dragging the club out of the top six altogether.

It is safe to say that Hibs returned to winning ways at just the right time, as they secured a 1-0 triumph over arch-rivals Hearts last time out, picking up a much-needed victory while claiming the Edinburgh bragging rights.

Still, Johnson's men cannot afford to rest on their laurels after defeating Hearts, as they have struggled on the road throughout the campaign, losing 10 of their 16 away league outings.

It is also worth noting that only four sides have conceded more goals than Hibernian's 51 this term, so the Edinburgh outfit will need to improve defensively if they are serious about securing European football for next season.

St Johnstone Scottish Premiership form:

D

L

D

L

L

L

Hibernian Scottish Premiership form:

W

L

L

L

L

W

Team News

St Johnstone will be without Nicholas Clark and Murray Davidson for the foreseeable future as they continue to recover from ankle injuries, while Chris Kane remains sidelined due to a knee injury.

Given that St Johnstone have failed to score in three matches, Steven MacLean will be hoping that Stevie May can add to his tally of seven goals and six assists this weekend.

Jamie Murphy, Melker Hallberg and Connor McLennan are expected to line up behind May, with Cameron MacPherson and Daniel Phillips anchoring the midfield.

As for Hibernian, they look set to be without forwards Martin Boyle and Aiden McGeady for Saturday's showdown, while Rocky Bushiri and Kyle Magennis are also out injured.

Experienced goalkeeper David Marshall will go in search of an 11th clean sheet of the Premiership campaign after keeping Hearts quiet last time out, with 20-year-old centre-back Will Fish aiding Marshall's cause.

Hibs top scorer Kevin Nisbet has netted 10 goals in 14 appearances this season, while Josh Campbell has contributed nine goals and five assists from midfield, although the latter may have to settle for a substitute appearance on Saturday.

St Johnstone possible starting lineup:

Matthews; Wright, McGowan, Gordon, Montgomery; Phillips, MacPherson; McLennan, Hallberg, Murphy; May

Hibernian possible starting lineup:

Marshall; Egan-Riley, Fish, Hanlon, Stevenson; Jeggo; Cadden, Doyle-Hayes, Newell, Youan; Nisbet

We say: St Johnstone 1-1 Hibernian

When you couple St Johnstone's woeful home record with Hibernian's poor away form, all the signs point towards a cagey stalemate at McDiarmid Park.

Previews by email