Hibs ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Alloa Athletic at Easter Road this afternoon thanks to goals from Liam Henderson, Jason Cummings and John McGinn.
Head Coach Alan Stubbs kept faith with the players who beat Raith Rovers two weeks ago. Islam Feruz was the only new signing to feature in the squad although the Chelsea youngster had to be content with a place on the bench.
McGinn and Cummings both retained their place in the team after returning from international duty with Scotland Under 21s.
There was a familiar face in the away dugout with former Hibs’ midfielder Danny Lennon returning to Easter Road as manager of Alloa who fielded ex Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra in their starting XI. Andy McNeil who won a CIS League Cup medal with Hibs was listed amongst the ‘Wasps’ subs.
A minute’s applause was held before kick off in memory of former chairman Kenny Waugh snr who sadly passed away last week and the supporters unveiled a ‘Refugees Welcome’ banner at the rear of the East stand.
Alloa started brightly and created two good chances within the first minute however from then on it was one way traffic as Hibs dominated possession. For the umpteenth time this season, Hibs were denied a clear cut penalty when Keatings was bundled over in the box but the referee infuriated the fans by waving play on then lecturing Stubbs for protesting.
In the 39th minute David Gray and Chopra were booked after an altercation following a challenge then Hibs took a deserved lead a few minutes later. McGinn sent an inch perfect through ball into the path of Cummings. He was fouled after the ball left his feet, but the referee played advantage and Cummings fired a low shot toward the bottom left hand corner of the net. David Crawford did well to save the strike but he could only parry the ball into the path of Henderson who slotted the ball home from six yards.
Hibs added a second just after the restart. A Keatings free kick rebounded to him off the wall and he set up Gray who dummied a shot before sliding the ball to Cummings. The striker showed good composure before side footing the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Hibs wrapped things up in the 64th minute with a well worked goal. Henderson rolled a corner into the path of McGinn who side footed the ball into the net to make it 3-0.
Keatings sustained a knock and had to leave the field being replaced by Martin Boyle as Hibs continued to attack. Feruz then replaced Henderson who left the field to a standing ovation, as did Cummings who was later replaced by Dominique Malonga.
Malonga almost added a fourth from a McGinn corner but his close range shot was tipped over the bar as Hibs held on to claim the three points.
Hibs: Oxley, Gray, Stevenson, Hanlon, Fontaine, Henderson, Bartley, McGeouch, McGinn, Keatings Cummings. Subs: Reguero, Mcgregor, Carmichael, Feruz, Martin, Boyle, Malonga
Alloa Athletic: Crawford, Hill, Marr, McAusland, Hamilton, O’Brien, Holmes, McManus, Chopra, Hetherington, Crawford. Subs McNeil, Reintam, Flannigan, Ferns, Duffy, Paun, Williams,
Referee John McKendrick
Attendance 7774
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.
