Neil Lennon’s competitive home debut ended with a shock 3-1 defeat to Queen of the South in the second round of the Betfred League Cup at Easter Road tonight.
Hibs led at half time and looked to be in control however Queens fought back to secure their place in the quarter finals.
Despite speculation to the contrary, Lennon only made the one change to the starting XI that beat Falkirk on Saturday with Marvin Bartley replacing youngster Scott Martin.
Former Queens’ winger Dan Carmichael and Alex Harris who spent last year on loan at Palmerston Park were on the Hibs’ bench.
There was a familiar face on the Doonhamers’ bench with new signing Stephen Dobbie listed amongst the substitutes.
Hibs started brightly and dominated early possession before taking well-deserved lead in the 21st minute. Pantomime villain Jamie Hamill fouled Jason Cummings near the right touchline and James Keatings sent the resultant free kick into the danger area. Liam Fontaine won the header which fell to Paul Hanlon at the back post and the long serving defender had the simple task of slotting the ball into the net from two yards.
Gary Holt should have added a second moments later, but he somehow managed to put Cummings’ low cross past the post with the goal gaping.
Lee Robinson did well to save from Keatings and then Cummings as Hibs looked to increase their lead then Fontaine headed just over from another Keatings free kick.
Just after the break, Dobbie replaced Dale Hinton and received a round of applause from both sets of fans.
The former Hibs striker looked dangerous every time he touched the ball as the Doonhamers fought to get back into the game.
On the hour mark, Hamill was lucky to escape a second yellow card after a reckless challenge on David Gray but the referee decided a warning was sufficient.
Queens grabbed an equaliser in the 65th minute when Dean Brotherston cut in from the left wing and found Dobbie who showed that he has lost none of his predatory skills by firing the ball into the net from eight yards.
Hibs continued to press forward and Robinson did well to save from Cummings and then Keatings within the space of a minute.
Lennon replaced Holt with Martin Boyle, but with eight minutes remaining, Queen of the South took the lead when Grant Anderson headed home from close range then sealed the victory four minutes later when Dobbie set up Lyndon Dykes who beat Ross Laidlaw from the edge of the area to the delight of the small band of Queens’ fans.
After the game Neil Lennon said: “We only have ourselves to blame. I’m annoyed about the way we defended, we have to be better than that.”
Hibs return to league action on Saturday with a home game against Dunfermline.
Hibs: Laidlaw,Gray, Hanlon, Fontaine, Mcgregor, Stevenson, Bartley, McGinn, Keatings, Holt, Cummings. Subs: Virtanen, Stanton, Boyle, Carmichael, Forster, Harris, Martin
Queen of the South: Robinson, Hamill, Dowie, Brownlie, Anderson, Millar, Lyle, Hilson, Jacobs, Hooper, Dykes. Subs: Thomson, Dobbie, Rigg, Pichard, Moxon, Tapping, Brotherston
Referee Euan Anderson
Attendance 7646
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.
