By Colin Moffat

Stokes (left) was on target twice for Hibernian

Anthony Stokes claimed his first goals for Hibernian as luckless St Johnstone crashed to defeat at Easter Road.

The visitors started brightly but fell behind when Stokes turned and drilled home a shot from the edge of the penalty area on 21 minutes

Derek Riordan added a second with a similar finish 15 minutes later.

Saints continued to make chances but midway through the second half Stokes found the net again when his deflected free kick deceived keeper Alan Main.

Hibs finished the match showboating, with an array of tricks and twists, but the scoreline rather flattered the home side, who were jittery in defence throughout.

St Johnstone made all of the early running, with Murray Davidson heading over the top from close range and Martin Hardie cracked a shot against the crossbar from the edge of the penalty box.

With Hibs looking uncertain at the back, the sliding Collin Samuel was inches away from connecting with Paddy Cregg's inviting ball across goal before Liam Craig made a horrible mess of a golden chance.

Samuel dug out a cross from the right flank and his team-mate headed over from a central position eight yards out.

Hibs had offered nothing in attack but took the lead with a goal out of the blue.

The previously sluggish Stokes controlled a long ball on his chest and turned to fire in a sweet strike from 18 yards.

David Wotherspoon drove wide after good work in midfield from Liam Miller, making his first Hibs start before Riordan doubled the home side's advantage

The ball dropped to the forward 20 yards from goal and he drilled a shot low into the corner and beyond the outstretched arm of Main.

Hibs continued to look vulnerable from long-throws and corners and the first half closed with home keeper Graham Stack getting down to stop a long range dig from Craig.

The first chance of the second period fell to the visitors and Davidson forced the ball wide of the target under pressure from Stack as Hibs again failed to deal with a throw-in.

A thrilling end-to-end sequence saw Stokes blaze a shot over the top, Stack gather an overhead kick from Saints substitute Stevie Milne, Wotherspoon shoot wide from a difficult angle and Kenny Deuchar volley off target from a promising position.

Hibs made the points safe when Stokes bagged his second goal from a set-piece on 73 minutes.

Substitute Danny Galbraith's enterprising run was brought to a crude halt by Graham Galbraith and the 20-yard free kick from Stokes found the net, via a slight deflection.

St Johnstone certainly did not deserve to be three goals down and their luck was out again when Ian Murray was perfectly placed to clear a Deuchar header from the goal-line.

The Saints sub then slashed a shot high and wide of an empty goal from a tight angle after Stack had foolishly raced out of his penalty area.

Hibernian manager John Hughes:
"Anthony Stokes worked hard, although I still think he has a bit to go on his fitness levels.

"Scoring today will give him confidence but he needs a few more games.

"He's got talent, he just needs to make sure he's focused and giving his best for Hibs."

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes:
"It certainly didn't feel like a 3-0.

"I think we've shown we are good enough in terms of performances but the reality of it all is that our results have not been good enough.

"We have to do better at both ends of the pitch.

"We worked hard to get the ball into good areas and had three or four great chances in the early part of the game."

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