Yet another Scottish Cup campaign ends in tears for Hibs this afternoon,, as despite dominating throughout and creating chance after chance, hitting the post and bar, they lost to a late sucker punch from Falkirk, ending their hopes of a third final in four years.
Although Hibs had not beaten Falkirk this season, the large travelling support arrived at Hampden Park in confident mood, knowing that in ten previous Scottish Cup ties between the teams, the Bairns had yet to win.
Alan Stubbs made one change to the starting XI that beat Hearts at Easter Road last Sunday with Scott Robertson returning from injury, replacing he cup tied Martin Boyle.
There was a minute’s applause ahead of the game in memory of former Hibs’ inside forward Tommy Preston and former Falkirk player and Hibs’ fan Cameron Armstrong.
Hibs started the game brightly and almost took the lead in the 4th minute when Jason Cummings found Dylan McGeouch on the right-wing. The on-loan Celtic star then sent a dangerous cross into the six yard box which McCracken just managed to intercept, knocking the ball back toward his own goal. Jamie MacDonald did well to block and the ball rebounded to El Alagui who was on hs knees, but despite that he was still able to get his head to the ball. MacDonald recovered in time however and produced a sensational save to deny the Hibs’ striker.
McGeouch then produced a great run, beating several defenders before shooting inches wide.
In the 15th minute Jordon Forster was shown a yellow card after bringing down Taylor Morgan on the half way line as Falkirk fought hard to get back into the game.
Moments later, former Hearts’ winger David Smith was lucky to escape a similar fate when he blatantly dived in an effort to win a free kick on the right, but referee John Beaton waved play on.
Just before the break, Hibs had two chances to take the lead. Scott Allan sent an inch perfect through ball to Lewis Stevenson who found Farid El Alagui inside the penalty box, but the big striker’s effort flew into the side net. Two minutes later, a twenty-five yard strike from Fraser Fyvie was deflected onto the post by the fingertips of MacDonald and the ball rebounded into the grateful keeper’s arms.
Falkirk started the second half strongly and Blair Alston went close with a fierce 25 yard strike which Mark Oxley tipped past the post.
Hibs then gained the upper hand and created several great chances. On the hour mark, Allan sent a fantastic through ball to El Alagui who was clean through with only MacDonald to beat however as he rounded the keeper, the linesman raised his flag. TV evidence however clearly showed that the striker was well on-side when the pass was made.
Two minutes later an Allan cross found McGeouch at the back post but he mishit his shot before sending a cross over the Stevenson who blasted the ball over the bar.
Moments later Allan picked up the ball in midfield, beat three defenders before firing in a powerful shot which rebounded off the bar.
Cummings then put in Stevenson but his strike was deflected and flew into the side netting, then El Alagui went close with a header from Allan’s corner as Hibs totally dominated possession.
In the 74th minute however as so often has happened to Hibs this year, Falkirk hit on the break. Alston did well to break clear on the right before sending a great cross into the six yard area and Sibbald shrugged off the challenge by McGeouch to head the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Franck Dja Djedje replaced Robertson then Dominique Malonga took over from Jason Cummings as Hibs looked for an equaliser.
Falkirk looked dangerous on the break and Paul Hanlon produced a sensational last gasp tackle to prevent Falkirk substitute Botti Biabi for adding a second.
Twice in the closing stages, passes to Lewis Stevenson were intercepted by the referee causing howls of protests from the Hibs’ fans and El Alagui and Maloga both spurned half chances in time added on and Falkirk eventually held on to secure the win.
After the game Stubbs told Sky TV: ” That’s what happens in semi-finals, you have to take your opportunities. We haven’t done that today and that’s the reason that we haven’t put ourselves in the final. I don’t think anyone would deny that the best team hasn’t gone through. It’s as simple as that really. You can look at anything you want. They have had one chance and they have scored.
“You start to think, ‘is it going to be one of these days when balls are coming back off the post into the keepers hands, we hit the crossbar. I can’t fault their efforts, I really can’t. I am disappointed for them, I’m disappointed for the fans and I’m disappointed for the club because we should have been in the final today.”
Hibs: Oxley, Forster, Hanlon, Fontaine, Stevenson, Robertson, McGeouch, Allan, Fyvie, El Alagui, Cummings. Subs: Cerny, Craig, Stanton, Handling, Malonga, Djedje, Dunsmore
Falkirk, Macdonald, Duffie, McVracken, Grant, Leahy, Taiwo, Vaulks, Sibbald, Smith, Morgan, Alston. Subs Bowman, Muirhead, Dick, Cooper, Blair, botti Bia-Bi, Ohara
Referee John Beaton
Attendance 21,227
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.
You begin to wonder if it will ever happen for Hibs in the cup.
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