Hibs left with familiar frustrations as Hearts and Hampden appear on the horizon

For 77 minutes, this was an encounter in which attacking promise repeatedly dissolved into poor execution. Neither side managed a single shot on target in a disjointed first half, and it took two scrappy goals in the closing stages to inject some life into a contest that had threatened to pass without incident.

Centre-back Marko Ivezic appeared to have secured a precious three points for the visitors when he bundled home from a corner with 13 minutes remaining. But Saints responded six minutes later, with substitute Paul Nsio denied at close range from Killian Phillips’ corner before his follow-up effort was deflected into his own net by Jason Kerr.

A share of the spoils offered limited comfort to either manager. St Mirren had hoped to build on Saturday’s victory over Dundee, which ended a five-game losing run and lifted Craig McLeish’s side up to sixth in the table. Hibs, meanwhile, headed west still rooted to the bottom after losing six of their previous seven league outings, with Reedijk still waiting for his first points following three successive defeats since his appointment last month.

The head coach enjoyed an ‘Invincible’ unbeaten league campaign with Beveren in Belgium’s second tier last season, but the challenge in the capital has proved considerably more complicated. With the pressure mounting, a win in Paisley would have provided timely encouragement before the meeting with their Edinburgh derby rivals.

Before kick-off Reedijk maintained that his team were “going in the right direction”, arguing that their improving chance creation would eventually produce the goals and results he craved.

The opening exchanges offered little evidence of either side possessing the cutting edge required to settle the contest. The hosts should have taken the lead in the fourth minute when Chris Mochrie broke down the left and picked out Luke Thomas inside the Hibs penalty area, but he slipped at the crucial moment.

Hibs gradually assumed control of possession, circulating the ball with increasing confidence but struggling to translate their territorial advantage into clear-cut chances. Nicky Cadden, making his first start of the season, delivered an inviting cross towards the back post in the 17th minute, where it was helped on to Joe Newell, only for the midfielder to fail to make a clean connection. Josh Mulligan subsequently fired over after collecting a knock-down.

St Mirren threatened intermittently. Killian Phillips, making his 100th start for the club, delivered a corner that Marcus Fraser headed off target, while Hibs striker Owen Elding drove into the area and struck the side-netting before the offside flag was raised.

By half-time, Hibs had enjoyed 57% of the ball, but neither goalkeeper had been seriously tested. The pattern continued after the interval. Jacob Chapman’s uncertain distribution presented Newell with a shooting opportunity in the 51st minute, but the Hibs midfielder failed to hit the target.

Four minutes later, Cadden supplied another teasing delivery and Mulligan’s goal-bound header was blocked behind for a corner, prompting an encouraging roar from the travelling support.

Hibs continued to press, with Elding firing narrowly over Chapman’s crossbar after another partially cleared corner in the 71st minute. Six minutes later, the visitors finally found their breakthrough.

Cadden’s corner caused chaos inside the penalty area, the ball pinballing between bodies before Ivezic made contact and bundled it over the line. It was an untidy finish, but its significance was unmistakable. The travelling Hibs support celebrated with an outpouring of relief, and Reedijk appeared within touching distance of the victory that had so far eluded him.

However, St Mirren responded well and were back on level terms almost immediately. Phillips in-swinging corner into the danger area dropped to Rangers loanee Nsio, whose initial effort from a few yards out was thwarted by Hibs keeper Raphael Sallinger, but the midfielder followed up, with the ball ricocheting off Kerr and into the net.

It was a chaotic conclusion to a largely forgettable match, but St Mirren scarcely cared. Nsio’s energetic contribution had provided the impetus the hosts needed, while extending their unbeaten run by avoiding defeat.

For Reedijk, the point represented progress of sorts, although Hibs’ winless Premiership run stretched to eight matches. They move off the bottom of the table on goal difference with this draw, but the first league victory of his tenure must wait.