Hibs have been relegated from the SPFL after losing a dramatic penalty shoot out to Hamilton Academical in front of a packed Easter Road stadium today.
The result sparked a demonstration from furious supporters outside the main stand at the end of the game, as fans demanded the resignations of both Chairman Rod Petrie and manager Terry Butcher.
Hibs went into the game with a 2-0 lead from the first leg and the manager made one change to the starting line up with Danny Haynes replacing Alex Harris however the on-loan winger lasted only a few minutes before being forced to leave the field with an ankle injury.
Hamilton grabbed the lead in the 11th minute following a poor clearance from Ryan McGivern when Jason Scotland turned Michael Nelson and hammered the ball into the far corner of the net to the delight of the travelling support.
Hibs almost responded immediately when Jason Cummings released Paul Heffernan who rounded Kevin Cuthbert but the linesman’s flag was raised.
Scott Robertson tested Cuthbert with a well struck shot, but Hamilton looked dangerous on the break and Hibs had Ben Williams to thank in the 21st minute when he blocked from Louis Longridge.
Hibs almost grabbed an equaliser just before half time when Liam Craig’s corner kick found Cummings at the back post, but his goal bound header was hooked it clear from the line.
Accies’ started the second half strongly and Williams once again did well to prevent Scotland doubling their lead.
Midweek hero Jason Cummings almost scored following a Lewis Stevenson cross then substitute Mickael Antoine-Curier saw his effort deflected over by McGivern as Hibs held on to their aggregate lead.
There was some confusion when the announcer reported four minutes of added time as the Easter Road scoreboard clock had stopped on 86 minutes, then with seconds remaining, Andreu swept in Scotland’s cutback from close range to send the game to extra-time.
Neither side went close in the additional 30 minutes and the game was decided on penalties.
Kevin Thomson took the first and his effort was saved by Cuthbert. The Hamilton players all scored, as did Ryan McGivern, Liam Craig and Owain Tudur Jones. With the score standing at 4-3 to the visitors, Jason Cummings needed to score to keep Hibs hopes alive but the youngsters effort was well saved and Hamilton celebrated their promotion with their fans in the south stand.
After the game around 500 Hibs supporters vented their anger at Terry Butcher and Chairman Rod Petrie outside the West Stand.
Hibernian: Williams, McGivern, Nelson, Robertson, Craig, Stevenson, Maybury, Heffernan (Tudur Jones 82′), Stanton, Haynes (Harris 7′, Thomson 64′)), Cummings. Substitutes not used: Murdoch, Cairney, Collins, Forster.
Hamilton Academical: Cuthbert, Gordon, Canning, Gillespie, Routledge (Ryan 81′), Crawford (Neil 81′), Longridge (Antoine-Curier 67′), MacKinnon, Andreu, Garcia, Scotland.Substitutes not used: Currie, Devlin, Keatings, Kilday.
Referee: William Collum.
Attendance: 18,031
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
Terry Butcher, praised his team the other night, THE HIBEE’S ARE RELEGATED TODAY AND HIBEE SUPPORTERS WANTS HIM SACKED, ain’t life at Easter Road brilliant?
see ye at the social on Tuesday Terry
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