Hibs started their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 win over Berwick Rangers at Shielfield Park last night, but a potentially serious injury to Danny Handling (pictured) put a dampener on the victory.
Ironically Handling is no stranger to the Shielfield Park pitch, having spent a successful spell with the ‘Wee Rangers’ in 2012 scoring six goals in his first four games.
New skipper David Gray opened the scoring in the 16th minute, but four minutes later Handling was stretchered off the pitch with a knee injury receiving warm applause from both sets of fans.
Last season’s top scorer Jason Cummings added a second in the 55th minute after good work from Scott Allan then five minutes later the midfielder who has been subject of much transfer speculation in the summer showed why when he dropped his shoulder and added a third.
In the 70th minute Alan Stubbs made six substitutions including Antonio Reguero, Jordon Forster, Alexd Harris and Borderer Lewis Allan.
Afterwards Head Coach Alan Stubbs told Hibernian TV: “Tonight’s performance was very similar to the first half against Wigan which I thought was very good, so I’m really happy with where we are, The lads look fit and strong and the more minutes we get into them is looking good for the start of our competitive games.
“We are looking forward to the season but we still have a couple of things to do. I’d like to bring in another midfield player. Danny (Handling) looks like he has picked up a nasty injury. We’ll get him scanned and take it from there.”
Hibernian: Oxley (Reguero, 70), Gray (Dunsmore, 70), Hanlon, Fontaine (Forster, 70), Stevenson (Crane, 70), Martin, Handling (Stanton, 20), Fyvie, S. Allan, Cummings (L. Allan, 70), Malonga (Harris, 70).
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.
