Two goals in the space of three minutes by David Zitelli and a late clincher from Russell Latapy saw Hibernian leapfrog Rangers and move back into second place.

It also saved them the embarrassment of becoming the first team to lose at home to St Mirren this season.

Zitelli's double was needed after Ricky Gillies had struck either side of half-time, with the first a penalty and the second an effort that needed a hefty deflection to beat goalkeeper Nick Colgan.

The afternoon had begun earlier than usual at 12.30pm because the absence of the West Stand meant the ground was no longer fully floodlit.

This gave fans the strange sight of both teams taking to the field through a building site, passing diggers and bulldozers on their way to the pitch.

They did so to the strains of the French national anthem to mark Sauzee's signing of a new contract earlier in the week and all the early signs were that this was to be his day.

Stuart Lovell, who has yet to commit himself to a new deal, could have opened the scoring in the seventh minute when he arrived at the far post to sidefoot Zitelli's square ball across the box firmly towards goal.

But Saints goalkeeper Ludovic Roy was equal to that effort and it needed Sauzee to beat him moments later for the first goal.

John O'Neil tried to burst through two defenders who were blocking his way into the box but one of the Saints men, Iain Nicolson, got a toe to it.

Goalkeeper Roy picked up the loose ball and referee Kevin Toner instantly ruled it a backpass.

The resulting indirect free-kick was tapped to Sauzee he smashed the ball past the wall and Roy to put Hibs into a deserved lead.

Lovell blasted over a good chance to repeat what he had achieved in this fixture earlier in the season, when he supplied both goals in a 2-0 win.

But Hibernian could not manage to turn their first-half superiority into another goal.

Saints had posed only an occasional threat until big Mark Yardley burst through two challengers to get a shot in on Nick Colgan's goal.

On that occasion he stabbed it wide but from the next Saints attack, Tom Hendrie's strugglers were level.

It was Graham Fenton who was involved, going down in the box under Gary Smith's challenge and Gillies, who had supplied the pass, sent Colgan the wrong way from the spot.

Saints had picked up just a single point away from Love Street before this game and scored only three goals, but found themselves level at half-time with a side that had dominated from the off.

And within seven minutes of the restart they were ahead when Gillies' shot took a deflection off O'Neil and looped in over Colgan.

Saints sensed that it could be their day but Zitelli soon made them forget such a notion.

His first goal was a smart, clipped finish which went in off a post after Latapy had set up the chance with a clever pass. The second, three minutes later, was from further out and went in under Roy's body.

Zitelli had saved his side and it was a surprise therefore when Latapy was announced as the man of the match as he had been quiet for most of the afternoon by his own high standards.

But as if he had taken that announcement as a cue, Latapy conjured up a fourth goal to seal victory - again in off a post - and squandered two late chances to have claimed a double himself.

The win takes Hibs back into second until tomorrow at least, when Rangers need a win at Celtic Park to reclaim it.

As for Saints, they must fight on their bid for SPL survival but at least they had scored twice away from home for the first time all season.

Teams:

Hibernian: Colgan, Fenwick, Sauzee, Gary Smith, Lovell, O'Neil, Latapy, Jack, Laursen, Paatelainen, Zitelli (Lehmann 82).

Subs not used: Franks, Andrews, Murray, McManus.

Goals: Sauzee 17, Zitelli 59, 61, Latapy 80.

St Mirren: Roy, Nicolson, Turner (Quitongo 82), Baltacha, Walker, Kerr (Bowman 78), McKenzie, Rudden, Gillies, Fenton, Yardley (Dagnogo 75).

Subs not used: Scrimgour, McGarry.

Booked: Gillies.

Goals: Gillies 44 pen, 51.

Att: 8,872

Referee: K Toner (Scotland).