Hibernian bounced back from their Edinburgh derby disappointment with a composed Scottish Premiership victory over St Mirren at Easter Road, as recent signings Owen Elding and Ante Suto both found the net.
Teenage striker Owen Elding marked his first start for the club with his maiden Hibs goal.
The 19-year-old, who arrived in January from Sligo Rovers, had been challenged pre-match by head coach David Gray to inject youthful energy into the side - and he delivered just before the break, glancing a fine header home from Dan Barlaser’s pinpoint cross.
Hibs should have doubled their lead soon after when Nicky Cadden’s deep delivery picked out Felix Passlack at the back post, but the German full-back could only crash his volley against the upright.
On Valentine’s Day, the hosts almost gifted St Mirren a route back into the contest when Miguel Chaiwa’s loose backpass sent Mikael Mandron through on goal, only for Raphael Sallinger to produce a sharp save to preserve the advantage.
Any lingering hope for the visitors was extinguished when they returned the favour.
Goalkeeper Shamal George spilled Cadden’s cross straight into the path of Ante Suto, who reacted quickest to bundle in from close range.
Suto, a deadline-day arrival from Slaven Belupo, continues to make an instant impact, having already scored a debut winner against Dundee United earlier this month.
The win keeps Hibs fifth in the table, moving them to within two points of Motherwell, while St Mirren drop to 10th, just three points above Kilmarnock.
Elding may have arrived with little fanfare, but this assured display will have supporters calling for more starts.
He linked play intelligently, combined well with Dane Scarlett and was Hibs’ most frequent presence inside the opposition penalty area - exactly the kind of work rate Gray demanded.
Suto has shown similar efficiency.
Two goals in his opening three appearances underline a striker’s instinct, even if this finish was more about anticipation than finesse.
The January window is often a difficult one, yet Hibs appear to have strengthened smartly.
Passlack and Munashe Garananga - the latter absent through injury - have settled quickly, while Barlaser’s growing influence in midfield was evident as he dictated tempo and supplied the assist for the opener.
For St Mirren, Stephen Robinson’s description of a “rollercoaster season” feels apt.
The defensive solidity that once defined them has ebbed away, and their attacking threat looks increasingly blunt.
With goals drying up and confidence fragile, Robinson faces a fight to ensure his side have the hunger required for the battle ahead.
Hibs head coach David Gray: "You're always looking for that reaction. Full credit to the players for their attitude and the way they approached the game.
"We moved the ball, created real opportunities, real patterns of play, and scored our goals at good times. For how dominant we were in the first half, it was important we got that goal.
"All in all, a really good performance, a clean sheet at home and something to really build on."
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "It was a poor game in the first half, nothing between the two teams. Nobody was creating and we don't stay with our runner from a set-play and that's poor.
"It's inexcusable. Everyone has jobs to do and we haven't done that. Second goal was exactly the same, we didn't defend it properly."
