Hibs took a giant step in the race for second place in the Championship with a hard fought 1-0 win over Alloa Athletic at a rain drenched Indodrill Stadium today.
Although the Easter Road side dominated possession throughout, it took a Scott Allan strike from a free kick midway through the first half to secure the victory.
The result leaves Hibs four points clear of Rangers who drew 1-1 against Falkirk last night, although the Ibrox side have three games in hand.
Head Coach Alan Stubbs made two changes to the starting XI that defeated Dumbarton 3-0 at Easter Road last weekend with David Gray and Scott Allan returning and Liam Fontaine and Danny Handling moving to the bench. Skipper Liam Craig (pictured) returned to the squad after serving a suspension but also had to settle for a place on the bench.
Gray resumed the right back slot and Keith Watson, who performed so well in that position moved to the centre of defence alongside Paul Hanlon.
After a quiet opening period, the deadlock was eventually broken in the 25th minute when Fraser Fyvie was fouled on the edge of the area.
Allan took the resultant free kick which he thundered into the bottom corner of the net to the delight of the large travelling support.
Franck Dja Djedje almost added a second moments later when Alloa keeper Craig McDowall could only parry a Dylan McGeouch strike then the on-loan midfielder set of Fraser Fyvle who shot narrowly wide.
Just before the break, Mark Oxley did well to push a Phillip Robert’s strike past the post
Hibs continued to dominate possession in the second half without troubling the Alloa keeper.
Allan shot over from 20 yards then a fierce effort from Fyvie was cleared off the line by Daryll Meggatt.
Scott Robertson, substitute Martin Boyle and Paul Hanlon all had chances and whilst Oxley was a spectator for most of the second half there was always a chance of Alloa grabbing an equaliser against the run of play.
Hibs should have wrapped things up in the last minute when Jason Cummings set up Boyle but the on loan striker dragged his shot wide,
In time added on Gray fired over the bar and Hibs held on to secure the win.
Alloa Athletic: McDowall, Doyle, Gordon, Marr, Meggatt (Spence 75′), Roberts (Rutherford 86′), Docherty, Cawley, McCord, Holmes, Layne (Buchanan 52′). Gibson, Tiffoney, Flannigan, Hetherington.
Hibernian: Oxley, Gray, Hanlon, Robertson, Stevenson, Watson, Allan (Craig 86’), Fyvie, McGeouch, Malonga (Cummings 55’), Dja Djedje (Boyle 66’). Substitutes not used: Cerny, Fontaine, Handling, Dunsmore.
Referee: John McKendrick.
Attendance: 2,024.
Photo by John Preece
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.
