Bobby Williamson celebrated his first game as Hibernian manager with three points - and virtually secured their top-flight survival for another season.

The win allowed the Edinburgh side to stretch their lead over bottom side St Johnstone to 12 points, leaving the Perth outfit with little chance of avoiding the drop to the First Division.

An Ian Murray brace gave Hibs the advantage before Garry O'Connor sealed the win with a superb strike after the break.

Both sides headed into this game knowing the outcome could ultimately decide who survives another season in the Scottish Premier League.

A win for Williamson in his first game since taking over the managerial reins from the sacked Franck Sauzee meant relegation would be unlikely.

But Saints stunned Livingston with a 3-0 win in their last league encounter and they knew another three points could offer them a 'Get out of Jail' card.

Williamson had taken a risk when he left the relative security of Kilmarnock - a team who could still win a place in Europe next season - to attempt to turn around the fortunes of a club whose confidence had been shredded following months of poor results.

The gamble looked like paying off after just one minute when his newly-inherited team showed the skill and composure that had been missing during Sauzee's short reign when they stormed into the lead.

An O'Connor shot deflected into the path of Murray and the young Hibs player gratefully rammed the ball past on-loan Saints goalkeeper Ludovic Roy.

The McDiarmid Park side had chances of their own to force their way back into the game, most notably when Paul Hartley took advantage of a careless back header from Gary Smith.

He burst forward, with only Nick Colgan to beat, but was somehow denied by the Hibs goalkeeper.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, St Johnstone were left to rue another missed opportunity when Hartley fed the ball into the path of Keigan Parker only for his effort to be blocked by Gary Caldwell.

The ball fell kindly to Grant Murray in midfield and he produced a superb volley that flew just wide of the upright.

Unfortunately for St Johnstone, Murray was far more clinical with his finishing and he doubled Hibs' lead after 36 minutes when he fired home from close range from a Mathias Jack pass.

Saints striker Parker had been cautioned earlier in the game for diving in the box and that booking proved costly when he picked up his second yellow card - followed by the red - for a challenge on Murray.

The double boost of a second goal and Parker's dismissal meant Hibs started the second half in control and they could have added to their goal tally three minutes after the restart.

O'Connor unleashed the shot that deflected off Mark Lynch and Craig Brewster pounced on the rebound just outside the six-yard box but he was denied by the St Johnstone goalkeeper.

The home side were threatening again after 52 minutes when Ulises de la Cruz was allowed to run into the area unchallenged before cutting the ball back to substitute Grant Brebner. But his first shot proved to be ineffective as the ball trundled harmlessly past the post.

Hibs were still looking like the team most likely to score and O'Connor could have grabbed the third goal after 59 minutes when he tried to volley into the top corner but the ball dipped over the crossbar.

John O'Neil tried his luck with a long, low effort from 25 yards six minutes later but the effort was weak and fell harmlessly past the upright.

O'Connor had been looking dangerous for Hibs and he put the game beyond doubt with a superb strike from just inside the area after 66 minutes.

O'Connor could have claimed a brace when O'Neil squared the ball into his path four minutes later.

He burst into the box but Roy was alert enough to rush off his line and he dived low to block before the Hibs player could pull the trigger.

Hartley had the chance to pull a goal back for St Johnstone six minutes later but his 25-yard free kick was easily held by Hibs goalkeeper Colgan.

That proved to be St Johnstone's last real chance of the game as their hopes of top-flight survival this season grew bleaker.

Teams:

Hibernian Colgan, Orman, Caldwell, Smith, Murray, De la Cruz (Townsley 79), Jack, O'Neil, Arpinon (Brebner 49), O'Connor, Brewster (Hurtado 69).

Subs Not Used: Caig, Fenwick.

Booked: Murray, De la Cruz, Brebner.

Goals: Murray 2, 37, O'Connor 67.

St Johnstone Roy, Lynch, Dods, Weir, Forsyth (Falconer 79), Maher (Dasovic 57), Murray, Kane, Hartley, Parker, Youssouf (Jones 50).

Subs Not Used: Cuthbert, McCluskey.

Sent Off: Parker (38).

Booked: Kane, Parker, Jones.

Att: 13,731

Ref: J Rowbotham (Scotland).