St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright was full of pride after hailing the dramatic late victory over Hibernian as one of the most satisfying of his reign.
Steven MacLean secured Saints’ first win in seven matches with a last-gasp goal after Anthony Stokes had levelled with a controversial injury-time penalty.
Murray Davidson scored the Perth’s side first goal in some 620 minutes of action with a 74th-minute opener before the frantic finish unfolded.
Wright’s side were rank outsiders heading to Leith, with Hibs having won four on the spin, and the Northern Irishman admits the manner of the victory was hugely pleasing.
“When you go on the run we’ve been on some people start to doubt you," Wright said: "But I would never doubt these players. You can never write us off. When you score a 93rd minute winner after conceding a penalty in the 90th minute it’s very satisfying. The range of emotions in those three minutes was incredible.
“And given the run we have been on you even think they might go on and sneak a second one. So for us to get the winner, it is sheer joy and elation. It was right they went and celebrated at the end. Hopefully that will kick us on now.”
Hibs enjoyed the lions’ share of possession in the first half but failed to make it count during a forgettable 45 minutes of football. The best chance before the break actually fell to Saints when goalkeeper Ofir Marciano pushed Liam Craig’s 12-yard drive on to the bar.
The McDiarmid Park outfit began the second period with a fresh reminder that they were not in town just to make up the numbers.
Paul Paton had a drive deflected over and from Craig’s resulting corner kick, Steven Anderson had a close range volley cleared off the line by John McGinn.
A flowing counter-attacking move from the visitors in the 63rd minute then saw Michael O’Halloran have sight of goal but Marciano tipped the forward’s ferocious drive over the bar.
Hibs defender Ryan Porteous then made a timely block on fellow substitute Graham Cummins shot after the Saints striker was teed up by MacLean with the goal gaping.
But St Johnstone did get their goal in the 74th minute through Davidson. Craig’s delivery to the back post was headed back across by Cummings and the midfielder nodded past the Israeli international shot-stopper from close range.
And there was plenty of drama to come. Hibs levelled in controversial circumstances after Joe Shaughnessy was adjudged to have handled Martin Boyle’s shot. Stokes scored from 12 yards and it was St Johnstone who were guilty of time wasting as Hibs tried desperately to restart the match.
Ironically, it was Saints who netted the winner with the last kick of the game through MacLean.
Marciano could not keep hold of Craig’s 12-yard drive and the experienced marksman tapped the ball into the net at the back post.
Hibs head coach Lennon refrained from reading his players the riot act, despite lamenting a flat performance.
“I’m not going to be over critical of the players,” said Lennon, who drew comfort from the fact that Aberdeen and Rangers were also beaten. “I’ll get over it. There was a flatness about us and I can understand it. It’s been a fragmented couple of weeks with players being away and players being out injured, some needing a rest.
“A point would have kept a decent run going. I just wanted us to get the point and you can come away saying, ‘well we haven’t played well but we got a point and show a bit of character’. To lose it in those circumstances - it’s crazy.”
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