Thirty-one years ago, Dumbarton visited Easter Road and left with a 3-2 victory in a game which ended with the resignation of Hibs’ manager Pat Stanton but there was no chance of a repeat today as Hibs dominated throughout and could have scored many more in a comfortable 3-0 victory.
The result means that Hibs have once again leapfrogged Rangers into second place in the Championship although the Ibrox side do have three games in hand.
Head Coach Alan Stubbs was forced to make several changes to his squad with captain Liam Craig suspended, midfield star Scott Allan ill and Sam Stanton unavailable with mumps although Lewis Stevenson was fit after picking up an injury against Rangers much to the relief of the programme editor as today’s edition celebrated his 250th appearance for the club.
Keith Watson returned to his favoured right back position after playing in a back three against Rangers, replacing vice-captain David Gray who was listed as a substitute.
Highly rated development squad teenager Conner Duthie made the bench for the first time.
With the absence of both skipper and vice-captain, Liam Fontaine was given the armband and led the players onto the pitch.
Hibs started brightly and Dominique Malonga almost opened the scoring in the 4th minute but the striker could only knock Stevenson’s cross inches past the post.
The Easter Road side created several chances before taking a well deserved lead in the 28th minute. Fraser Fyvie slid an inch perfect through ball to Keith Watson who found Franck Dja Djedje on the penalty spot. The striker did well to control the ball under pressure from the Dumbarton defenders before calmly sliding the ball low into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Four minutes later, another fine cross by Watson found Malonga who stooped to head the ball past Rogers to double Hibs’ advantage.
Within seconds Malonga could have made it three after a slide rule pass from Fraser Fyvie but his shot flew inches wide.
Just before half time, a Watson shot was saved by the right leg of the Dumbarton keeper.
Five minutes into the second half, Hibs were denied a clear penalty when Watson was upended inside the box but the referee waved play on to the fury of the supporters.
Hibs then wrapped the game up in the 55th minute when Robertson did well to slip the ball into space after a great run. Malonga and Handling appeared to get in each-others’ way before the Conga internationalist hammered the ball into the net.
From then on it was one way traffic but Hibs were unable to add to their goal tally.
Paul Hanlon had a header cleared off the line then with six minutes remaining Mitchell Megginson handled a Dylan McGeouch cross but once again referee Greg Aitken dismissed the Hibs’ players’ appeals.
With five minutes remaining, Duthie was handed his debut replacing Handling, and was welcomed onto the pitch with a standing ovation.
Hibs: Oxley, Watson, Stevenson, Hanlon, Fontaine, Fyvie, Robertson, Handling, McGeouch, Djedje, Malonga. Subs Cerny Gray, Forster, Cummings, Boyle, Martin, Duthie.
Dumbarton: Rogers, Linton, Taggart, Findlay, Wilson, Agnew, Megginson, Easton, Campbell, Fleming, Gilhaney. Subs: Grindlay, Mair, Turner, Duggan, McCallum, Petrie
Attendance 8330
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.
