The sign of a good team is when they can get the results when the squad is stretched by injuries and when the side is not playing at its very best. That is usually down to a team spirit and a strong, winning mentality. So it is with this Hibs team and its been a long, long time since you could last say that.

Whilst Hibs were never at their finest in this match, especially in a pretty dreadful second half, I always felt they were tough enough to get the three points - a believe borne out by the fact that Colgan was not asked to make a single save during the ninety minutes.

You have to give the defence a lot of the plaudits for this fine run we are presently on. The press have concentrated on Agathe and the free flowing attacking of this team but don't forget that we have only conceded one goal in six league fixtures so far. Much has been said about Sauzee and also about Gary Smith, because he was plucked form the scrap heap, as it were. But I would like to single out another player, who I thought was particularly outstanding during this match, and that is the Canadian, Paul Fenwick. He never put a foot wrong and won absolutely every aerial challenge, most of them against Jens Paeslack, an absolute giant of a man.

Hibs changed their formation for this game. At first it seemed as if we would see the normal 3-5-2 with Lovell in the right wing back role but it quickly transpired that we were playing 4-4-2 with Fenwick man-marking Paeslack, Gary Smith at right back, Tom Smith at left back and Sauzee the free man. In fact Lovell played well up in the midfield and was noticeable, especially in the first half, for how well he got forward, making several bursting runs ahead of the strikers. You could even argue that we were playing 4-3-3 for much of this match as Latapy tends to play further and further forward as games progress. It had transpired before the match, that Agathe was injured and would take no part, and so we had a chance to see how Lehmann would do partnering Paatelainen.

The first half was no classic, but it is fair to say that Hibs should have had the game won by half time with a series of good chances. That they didn't was down to some poor finishing and some great saves from Ludovic Roy in the St. Mirren goal. As I have said, Lovell made some great runs and he had a couple of good chances. Latapy was right through at one point but only found the side netting. Roy made good saves from Paatelainen (twice), O'Neil and Sauzee from a fierce free-kick.

And so it seemed like St. Mirren would hold out until half time but Stuart Lovell had other ideas. Sauzee fed a ball through to O'Neil who released Lovell, coming through the inside left channel, and he coolly stroked the ball home to the great relief of the home supporters.

Hibs also started the second half brightly enough and for five minutes it seemed as if the pattern of the first half would continue. Gary Smith tried an adventurous chip over the goalkeeper which just cleared the bar and Sauzee sent in a rasping volley that Roy beat away.

After this, however, St.Mirren gradually started to attain a territorial advantage. I should stress that it was no more than that. Whilst they were able to keep Hibs in their own half for long periods, they never had the guile to unlock the Hibs defence and provide a real scoring opportunity.

It was a restless period for the home support, however, as the fluency deserted the Hibs team with even the usually reliable Sauzee and Latapy way below their best. We just needed a second goal and I am sure it would all have been different. Unfortunately that goal did not arrive until injury time at the end of the game. Again Lovell was the scorer, swivelling on the edge of the box to fire in a low left foot shot that for once Roy was unable to get to. The cheer that went up was long and sustained and had a real ring of relief about it.

Latapy was announced over the tannoy as man of the match, an announcement met by more than a few sniggers, I have to say. Every great player is allowed an occasional off-day. Latapy is usually always effective even when not at his brilliant best but, for me, this was certainly his off-day. You could say the same for quite a few Hibs players but who cares, we're top of the league. Lovell could legitimately take a lot of plaudits for an industrious and scoring display but, in my opinion, Hibs man of the match was Paul Fenwick, who was immense against an aerial barrage and very assured on the ball.

Hibs Team 4-4-2

Colgan
G.Smith, Sauzee, Fenwick, T.Smith
Lovell, Latapy, Jack, O'Neil
Lehmann, Paatelainen (McManus)

Subs not used : Westwater, McIntosh, Brebner, Sar-Temsoury