Night of high drama as Hibs confirm best of the rest status

At a venue just along the road from Scotland's second busiest airport, David Gray's Hibs secured a result that enabled their supporters to dream of European destinations and - they hope-sun-kissed adventures in foreign lands, as a battling draw with St Mirren secured their status as the third best team in Scotland, writes John Greechan.

- John Greechan.

If this wasn’t exactly how Gray would have chosen to get there, with his team squandering an early two-goal lead against a super-motivated Saints side chasing their own targets, all that matters is the final table.

As every Easter Road regular knows by now, a Celtic victory in the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday week will secure the team finishing third in the Scottish Premiership a bumper UEFA bonus. A Europa League play-off, with Europa Conference League football until Christmas to cushion the fall should they stumble at that high hurdle.

Two goals inside the opening ten minutes, Martin Boyle bagging his 20th of the season before strike partner Mykola Kuharevich doubled the visitors' lead, put Hibs in control.