Australian international Martin Boyle has continued his brilliant start to the Scottish Premiership season with a fifth goal of the campaign putting him clear at the top of the league's goalscoring charts.
The Hibernian winger scored from the penalty spot in Hibs' 2-2 draw at home to St Mirren on Saturday, making it five in six league games for the in-form Socceroo who was voted the Premiership player of the month for August.
The Scottish-born international Boyle has now netted eight times in all competitions for Hibs this season, with his other three goals coming in European competition.
Yet there was still a sense of anti-climax for the Edinburgh club because, though they moved back ahead of Rangers at the top of the Premiership on number of goals scored, they felt they'd missed a glorious chance to open up a temporary gap at the top.
Rangers, who are level with Hibs and Hearts on 12 points, can now go three points clear with a win over fourth-placed Motherwell on Sunday.
A late headed equaliser from St Mirren captain Joe Shaughnessy left Hibs frustrated at the end of a pulsating second half at Easter Road after Boyle's 61st minute spot kick, which had put the hosts 2-1 up, had looked set to seal the points.
Hibs had trailed at the break to Eamonn Brophy's opener but Boyle was at the heart of their recovery after the interval, with an equaliser from Paul McGinn and the Aussie.
Boyle had enjoyed the first clear-cut chance of the match but shot wide from the edge of the box after 16 minutes.
He was also at the centre of drama five minutes after the break when his teammate Ryan Porteous' headed goal was ruled out after Boyle, standing on the goalline, had been ruled to have been interfering while offside.
Hibs' manager Jack Ross said: "We weren't at the levels we've been at in recent times.
"It's a strange afternoon because we've remained undefeated and we're back to the top of the table but there's a lot of frustration with the outcome and bits of the performance."
Australian Associated Press
