SportfootballPremier League
St Mirren 1-1 Hibernian: Nlundulu levels, but was he offside?
The controversial 1-1 draw between St Mirren and Hibernian at The SMISA Stadium was a masterclass in footballing chaos, a match that will be dissected for weeks not for its quality, but for a single, razor-thin officiating decision that overshadowed the entire contest. Hibernian thought they had snatched an early lead through a textbook Josh Campbell header, only for the linesman's flag to cut short their celebrations in a call that, while correct, set a nervy, fractious tone for the afternoon.It was St Mirren who then seemed to seize the initiative, with Scott Tanser whipping in dangerous deliveries from the left, but they struggled to break down a resolute Hibs backline marshalled by the experienced Paul Hanlon. The deadlock was finally broken, somewhat against the run of play, when Dundee United loanee Luke McCowan found a pocket of space and fired a low drive that squirmed under the keeper, sending the home fans into raptures and seemingly putting the Saints on course for a crucial three points in their push for a top-six finish.Yet, the narrative was flipped on its head in the 78th minute with the introduction of Hibernian's January signing, Nathanial Nlundulu. The on-loan Bolton forward, a physical presence who has drawn early comparisons to a raw Didier Drogba for his hold-up play, became the epicenter of the drama, meeting a deflected cross at the back post to smash the ball home and send the travelling support wild.Immediately, the stadium's energy shifted to a tense, anxious murmur as all eyes turned to the assistant referee, whose flag remained stubbornly by his side, while the VAR room at Clydesdale House began its meticulous forensic examination. Replays shown on the broadcast feed were agonizingly inconclusive; was Nlundulu's back knee or trailing shoulder just ahead of the last defender? The freeze-frame analysis felt like an eternity, reminiscent of the infamous 1966 World Cup final goal for England, where technology wasn't present to provide a definitive answer, leaving a legacy of debate.Here, with all the technology at their disposal, the Scottish FA's VAR officials ultimately deemed the evidence not clear and obvious enough to overturn the on-field decision, a ruling that will feel like a dagger to the heart of every St Mirren supporter and a get-out-of-jail-free card for Hibs manager Nick Montgomery. This single moment encapsulates the modern football experience—a blend of raw, on-pitch passion and cold, detached technological intervention.For Hibernian, this hard-fought point on the road, salvaged from the jaws of defeat, feels like a victory, a testament to the squad's resilience, much like Barcelona's legendary comeback against PSG, where they never stopped believing. For St Mirren, however, it's a brutal lesson in fine margins, a game they controlled for large periods but were ultimately undone by a decision measured in millimeters, a scenario that will fuel arguments in pubs across Paisley for the foreseeable future and raises larger questions about the soul of the game in an era of digital officiating.
#St Mirren
#Hibernian
#Scottish football
#match result
#offside controversy
#featured
