St Mirren and Hibernian lock horns in an important encounter that could sort out where the European places go in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday.
The hosts still have an outside chance of securing a Conference League spot for the second season running, while Hibs are in the driving seat to finish as the best of the rest behind Celtic and Rangers.
Match preview
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With just two matches remaining, with the last coming away to Celtic, it is fair to say anything but a win here will end St Mirren’s hopes of qualifying for Europe again next season.
It has been a brave effort from Stephen Robinson‘s men though, who just snuck into the top six before the split last month, and they have arguably been the most impressive team in the Championship Group.
The club from Paisley were nine points adrift of the European places after the split, but within just three games, they are now only two points behind, thanks to wins over Aberdeen and Dundee United, as well as a draw with Rangers.
Last season, Robinson led St Mirren into Conference League qualifying, finishing fifth on 47 points, but an increase in quality across the league this season means despite having 48 points with two to play, they are still down in sixth.
The Saints also need a favour off Celtic, who must win the Scottish Cup against Aberdeen for fifth place to be open to a European spot, and Robinson may hope they can capitalise on them focusing mainly on that final when they go to the green and white half of Glasgow on the final day.
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Hibernian have done most of the hard work already, and look set to take a Europa League spot in third place.
That is despite losing both away games since the split at Aberdeen and Celtic, but they put up a good showing against the latter on Saturday, leading for most of the first half before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat.
A healthy goal difference means no matter what happens in the league or cup, Hibs will be in Europe, but the higher up they finish, the better chance they will have of reaching a group/league phase for the first time, and it is likely only one point is needed to ensure they enter the Europa League, which will provide a safety net of falling into the Conference League should they fail in qualifying.
With Rangers to come at the weekend, David Gray‘s side will fancy their chances given the recent struggles of the Glasgow giants, but they will not want to add any pressure to that game by dropping points here.
Team News
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The hosts will be at full strength after 17-year-old Evan Mooney returned from injury to take his place on the bench at the weekend, and he could even be given some minutes in this clash.
Robinson saw his frontline weakened when top scorer Toyosi Olusanya left for Houston Dynamo in MLS last month, but Mikael Mandron has come in and netted in back-to-back matches, leaving him just one behind Olusanya in the scoring charts.
Hibernian are not as fortunate on the injury front, as they will be without Joe Newell and Kwon Hyeok-kyu in the engine room for this trip to Paisley.
The visitors do have in-form Martin Boyle up front though, who, like Mandron, has found the net in consecutive matches coming into this one, taking his Premiership count to 13 this season – his best-ever tally in a league season.
St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Hemming; Fraser, Taylor, Gogic; Alebiosu, Idowu, Phillips, Boyd-Munce, John; Mandron, Ayunga
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Smith; O’Hora, Bushiri, Iredale; Cadden, Triantis, Levitt, Obita; Hoilett, Boyle, Kukharevych
We say: St Mirren 1-1 Hibernian
St Mirren are unbeaten in the three meetings with Hibs this season, taking seven points, and have home advantage, but the visitors have had a very strong second half of the campaign, and are favoured slightly in the odds.
Despite losing both games on the road since the split, Hibs will have more of a chance here compared to at Celtic Park, and they should have enough to take something back to Edinburgh.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
