ST MIRREN sunk deeper into the basement battle after relegation rivals Hibs ground out a 2-0 win to leapfrog them into 10th place in the SPL.

Second-half goals from Derek Riordan and David Wotherspoon were enough to earn Hibs three vital points from a scrappy and nervy game and ease the pressure on under-fire boss Colin Calderwood.

The Easter Road side had the better of a first half in which Saints just never got going, and a Hibs opener already looked well overdue by the time Riordan netted on 63 minutes.

The onus was on Saints to take the game to their opponents but they failed to put them under any real pressure and Wotherspoon's injury-time clincher was no less than the home side deserved.

The result leaves St Mirren casting nervous glances below them to a Hamilton side who now sit four points adrift with a game in hand.

Danny Lennon kept faith with the side that drew at home to Dundee United last week, with Paul McGowan continuing to partner Michael Higdon up front, and Craig Dargo on the bench.

On the other hand, Hibs boss Colin Calderwood made five changes from the 11 who lost at Tannadice on Sunday, with a debut for new striker Akpo Sodje, signed from Charlton two days ago.

What few openings there were in a dull opening period fell for Hibs, but Saints keeper Paul Gallacher was able to watch efforts from Matt Thornhill and Richie Towell fly wide.

Sodje squandered a good shooting chance from distance after a slip by Darren McGregor, before Thornhill scooped a shot over from 15 yards.

The home side came closer on 21 minutes when a deflected effort from Towell forced Gallacher to make an instinctive stop with his feet, with Derek Riordan blasting the loose ball well wide.

Hibs continued to make all the running and Riordan sent a teasing free-kick across the face of the goal before Thornhill had a shot blocked and Sodje stabbed an effort wide.

Saints survived that spell of pressure but were forced to make a sub on 33 minutes when Paddy Cregg, who looked to have picked up a knock, was replaced by Hugh Murray.

And Saints, who had so far failed to register an effort on goal, were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead 30 seconds later.

Graham Stack was short with a headed clearance, and the ball dropped for Steven Thomson, but his attempt to lob the stranded keeper drifted wide of the goal.

Higdon then forced a save from Stack with a shot on the turn from 18 yards, before David Wotherspoon headed wide from close range just before the break.