Josh Fowler's two first-half goals earned St Johnstone a vital 2-1 Premiership win over Hibernian at McDiarmid Park. The victory lifts the Perth side to seventh in the table with seven points from their opening five matches.
Fowler, who joined from Queen's Park in January, opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Martin Boyle fouled Enes Alic. He doubled the lead before Nathan Lowe pulled one back for Hibs. The three points see St Johnstone leapfrog their visitors and sit eight points behind leaders Celtic.
Fowler was the decisive figure. He showed composure to convert the early penalty and added a second with a sharp finish. His performance justified his start after a late equaliser against Dundee last Wednesday. He could have had a hat-trick, missing a free header and curling a left-foot shot just wide after the break. Manager Simo Valakari praised the striker's predatory instincts in the box.
Valakari's side stuck to their passing philosophy. "You have to play to your strengths," the manager said. That trust in possession and each other allowed them to control key areas. Defender Zach Mitchell was outstanding at the back, while Jason Kerr made a vital last-ditch tackle on Sam Stanton. It was a second consecutive home league win, building momentum ahead of their next match against Dundee United on October 17th. Fans can track the team's progress via the club's standings page.
Hibs head coach David Gray was furious with a sluggish display coming just three days after a derby defeat. "The bit that stings the most is that it’s off the back of a derby defeat," Gray said. His team, missing the injured Jordan Obita and suspended Jack Iredale, were sloppy and lacked responsibility across the pitch. Despite a late rally and a Thibault Klidje header that forced a save, they never truly recovered from Fowler's early double, suffering back-to-back losses.
The win improves St Johnstone's record to two wins, one draw, and two losses this season. They have scored eight goals and conceded eight, giving them a neutral goal difference. This solid start is a positive step for last season's Championship winners as they re-establish themselves in the top flight. The squad's depth will be tested, with details on player availability found on the injuries page. The team now prepares for a home fixture against ninth-placed Dundee United next month.
