Hibs still in with their treble chance as John McGinn sinks St Johnstone in League Cup semi

With the Leith outfit notoriously not having won the Scottish Cup since 1902, the observation of Alan Stubbs his team could win three trophies this season – Championship plus Scottish and League Cups, was mocked as being the stuff of fantasy.

The Hibs boss stood his ground, querying whether the media wanted him to say he expected his team to lose games.

And yesterday, on what was a bitterly cold day in the capital, his players did likewise to put his side on course for their first trophy since 2007.

For if Saints were unhappy at their first, a penalty, they could have no quibble with John McGinn’s thundering winner .

Things had started badly for them too with the news Anthony Stokes had failed to make the 18 because of a back injury.

With the Irishman brought in on loan from Celtic especially to add firepower in the big games between now and the end of the season there was no escaping the fact his absence was a blow.

Hibs started brightly anyway with Liam Henderson, also in on a short term arrangement from the Premiership champions, the first man from either team to get a shot on target.

If Saints goalkeeper Alan Mannus didn’t have any real difficulties getting to that one, he was a relieved man when John McGinn fired wide from great position after the ball sat up for him at the end of a lovely cross-field move involving Lewis Stevenson and Jason Cummings.

The Perth club had better luck with their own fitness doubt, Murray Davidson lining up in his customary position in central midfield.

Perhaps remembering his hip problem, his play was little timid by comparison to his usual displays.

Instead of snapping into challenges he seemed to hold back a little.

And given that little opening, Hibs exploited it steadily becoming more and more dominant in the middle of the pitch.

It was little surprise when, on the half-hour, they took the lead through a converted penalty.

Henderson moved to dart into the box and when Chris Millar came across him to shut the space down he tumbled.

Referee Steven McLean had absolutely no doubt, pointing immediately to the spot from where Jason Cummings calmly passed a shot into the corner.

Millar was furious and protested long and hard but – unsurprisingly – to no avail.

As it turned out their lead was to be short-lived anyway with Tommy Wright’s men responding almost immediately with an excellent score.

Simon Lappin’s free-kick was headed out to Michael O’Halloran who passed possession on to David Wotherspoon.

The former Hibee dinked the ball back into the box and, from some 10 yards out, Joe Shaughnessy looped a great header over Mark Oxley to make it level at 1-1.

Boosted by their success, Saints grew in confidence and were much more in the tie on their return after the interval.

Simon Lappin came as close as it was possible to without actually scoring when curling a free kick onto the top of the crossbar.

The longer it went on, the more things opened up – to the benefit of the forward players in both teams.

Cummings was denied by a smart work from Mannus who rapidly shut down Cummings in space when the striker found himself free in the box.

Chis Dagnall too went close, spinning and firing a low shot which clipped the outside of the post on its way behind.

A breakthrough was coming and it was McGinn who supplied it from what was far from the easiest of opportunities.

The 21-year-old had Lappin in close attendance when he picked up a loose ball 25 yards out.

With his first couple of touches he both took controlled it and took it past his opponent, with his next he smashed a left-foot shot home.

Saints had their moments after that, most notably another Shaughnessy header which Oxley had to dive full length to save, but could not get back on terms.

Stubbs said: “I’m delighted more for the players and the fans than for myself.

“It’s great to be able to reward the players and the fans with a trip to Hampden.

“I thought all the players did their jobs.

“They all stood up and were counted even when they got the equaliser.”

Tommy Wright congratulated the Saints’ opponents: “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Alan and his team and wish them good luck in the Final, but we are extremely disappointed.

“I think Hibs probably played better than us on the day, but credit to us, we stayed in the game.

“Without playing at our best we were always in it.”