Hibernian vs St Johnstone Predictions

Hibernian vs St Johnstone Predictions for this Scottish Premiership fixture. Hibernian will be seeking their first league win of the season when they host St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday. Both teams will be eager to secure a crucial victory. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

Scottish Premiership | Sep 14, 2024 at 3pm UK at Easter Road Stadium

Hibernian vs St Johnstone Predictions

Can Hibernian Secure Their First Win of the Season, or Will St Johnstone Hold Firm?

• Hibernian’s Defensive Woes Continue
  • Hibernian have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their four league matches this season, conceding an average of two goals per game. Defensive lapses have plagued David Gray’s side, and they will need to tighten up if they are to secure their first win of the campaign.
• St Johnstone’s Suspensions Hampering Defensive Stability
  • St Johnstone have seen three red cards already this season, with Jack Sanders the latest to be dismissed. These suspensions have added to their defensive frailties, and they will be without Sanders and Sidibeh for this crucial clash. As a result, St Johnstone are struggling to maintain consistency at the back.
• Both Teams Creating Chances Despite Poor Form
  • Despite their early struggles, both teams are managing to create goal-scoring opportunities. Hibernian have averaged 10.3 shots per game, while St Johnstone are slightly more prolific with 12.5 shots per game. However, both sides are guilty of missing chances, which has contributed to their lack of wins.

Best Bet

As Hibernian prepare to welcome St Johnstone to Easter Road in the Scottish Premiership, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both sides. Neither team has had the start to the season they would have hoped for, with Hibernian still winless after four league matches. Consecutive draws have kept their hopes alive, but there is mounting pressure on manager David Gray to turn things around swiftly. St Johnstone, though marginally better off, have been inconsistent, managing only one win from their opening four fixtures.

The fixture represents an opportunity for both teams to reignite their campaigns. Hibernian’s home support could be a vital factor, yet they will have to contend with a St Johnstone side looking to recover from a recent 2-1 defeat to Motherwell. Both clubs have had flashes of brilliance, but their early-season form suggests a closely fought encounter lies ahead, with neither side likely to dominate proceedings. Given their erratic starts, the question remains: will Hibernian finally find their rhythm, or can St Johnstone capitalise on their hosts’ vulnerabilities?

The safest bet for this clash appears to be backing both teams to score. Neither Hibernian nor St Johnstone have displayed defensive solidity this season, and both have shown glimpses of attacking quality, making this a viable prediction. Hibernian have scored in three of their last four games, despite their defensive frailties. Their most recent 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock highlighted their ability to create chances, even if they are often undone by lapses at the back. Joe Newell, who has netted once this season, continues to be an attacking threat, and with support from Martin Boyle and Kieron Bowie, Hibs are likely to find the back of the net again.

On the other hand, St Johnstone have scored five goals in their opening four matches, an average of 1.3 goals per game. Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka has been one of their standout players, scoring two goals thus far. Even without the suspended Adama Sidibeh, St Johnstone have enough firepower to trouble Hibernian’s shaky defence. Their attacking stats, including 12.5 shots per game and 3.8 shots on target, underline their potential to breach a defence that concedes an average of two goals per game.

Moreover, St Johnstone’s defence has been far from watertight, conceding six goals in four games. This defensive vulnerability, compounded by suspensions and injuries, should give Hibernian enough opportunities to score, especially playing at home where they have averaged 10.3 shots per game. Both teams’ current form suggests that defensive errors are likely to play a role, allowing for multiple goal-scoring opportunities on either side.

A quote from BettingTips4You.com expert Herrin Kendrick summarises this outlook perfectly: “Given the defensive issues facing both sides and the attacking quality they possess, both teams finding the back of the net looks a solid bet. Neither Hibernian nor St Johnstone have demonstrated the defensive organisation required to keep a clean sheet at this stage of the season.”

Hibernian’s lack of clean sheets so far—conceding eight goals in four league matches—combined with St Johnstone’s attacking threat, points to a match where goals are almost guaranteed. While the final outcome is difficult to predict given both teams’ inconsistent form, the bet for both teams to score seems well-founded.

Correct Score Prediction: Hibernian 1-1 St Johnstone

Given the recent form of both teams, a 1-1 draw appears to be a realistic outcome. Hibernian, despite their struggles, have managed to score in most games, but their inability to hold on to leads or prevent opposition goals suggests they will concede again. Their current form shows they’ve struggled defensively, but they do possess the attacking firepower to trouble St Johnstone’s fragile backline.

St Johnstone, while more capable in attack than defence, have not been prolific enough to suggest they will overpower Hibernian, especially with key players missing through suspension. The absence of Sidibeh could hamper their offensive threat, but Kimpioka’s form offers a lifeline in front of goal. Their 1.3 goals per game and propensity to create chances (averaging 12.5 shots per match) mean they will likely find the net, but they are unlikely to shut out a Hibs side playing on home turf.

Both sides have had a habit of sharing the spoils in recent games, particularly Hibernian, who have drawn their last two matches. With both teams averaging fewer than two goals per game and conceding at a similar rate, a 1-1 result aligns with the form book and their current attacking and defensive statistics.

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