Hibs began their defence of the Scottish Cup with a comprehensive 8-1 victory over Bonnyrigg Rose at Tynecastle this afternoon.
Neil Lennon made five changes to the starting XI that beat Dumbarton last weekend although he took no chances against the junior side and fielded a strong team.
Ofir Marciano ,Jordon Forster, Andrew Shinnie, James Keatings and Grant Holt all started at the expense of Ross Laidlaw, David Gray, Kris Commons, Fraser Fyvie and Martin Boyle.
Before the game there was a minute’s silence for former Bonnyrigg Rose player and Hibs fan, Shaun Woodburn, who sadly died earlier this month.
Bonnyrigg started brightly and won an early corner but it was Hibs who opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Shinnie’s long range effort beat Rose’ keeper Michael Andrews.
Four minutes later Keatings curled the ball into the top corner of the net from 20 yards out to make the score 2-0.
Moments later Hibs keeper Marciano collided with Kieran McGachie and was forced to leave the field looking in considerable pain.
He was replaced by Ross Laidlaw who has been covering in his absence then Hibs added a third. John Mcginn picked up the ball in midfield and threaded the ball through to Lewis Stevenson. The wingback’s shot was parried by Andrews and Chris Humphrey was on hand to hammed the ball into the net from close range.
Bonnyrigg pulled one back in the 33rd minute in controversial circumstances. McGachie went down following a challenge by Forster and although there did not appear to be any contact, referee Alan Muir pointed to the spot.
Dean Hoskins sent Laidlaw the wrong way and hammered an unstoppable shot into the net.
Rose almost made t 3-2 but unmarked Wayne McIntosh headed just wide from a corner kick.
Jason Cummings made it 4-1 with a superb volley from a Stevenson cross then Hibs’ longest serving player got his name on the scoresheet after latching on to a low cross from Grant Holt.
Hibs continued to press forward and Keatings did well to find Shinnie on the left. The midfielder rolled the ball into the path of Holt who fired in a powerful effort which produced a fin save by Andrews however Cummings was first to react and hammered the ball into the net from close range.
Holt then did well to find substitute Martin Boyle inside the area and he slid the ball into the path of Keatings who calmly curled the ball past Andrews into the bottom corner of the net.
Goal scorer Hoskins was fortunate to avoid a red card for a reckless challenge of Chris Humphrey before Hibs added an eighth with nine minutes remaining when Forster headed home from a corner kick.
Hibs had more chances but the Midlothian team kept the score in single figures.
After the game a delighted Neil Lennon told BBC Scotland: “The attitude was great and that will give the players a lift. Overall, I’m very pleased and the most important thing is that we are in the next round.
“It was a good day. Unfortunately, we lost our goalkeeper early [Ofir Marciano after a collision], so we are waiting to hear the results of that and we’re hoping it’s not too bad.”
Bonnyrigg Rose: Andrews, Horne, Donaldson, Young, Hoskins, Stewart (Brown 77′), Turner (Gray 57′), Kidd, McGachie, Nelson, McIntosh (McLaren 61′). Substitutes not used: Moyes, Archibald, Jamieson, Rooney.
Hibernian: Marciano (Laidlaw 20′), Forster, McGregor, Fontaine, Stevenson, Humphrey, McGinn (Fyvie 61′), Shinnie, Keatings, Cummings (Boyle 73′), Holt. Substitutes not used: Bartley, Graham, Crane, Martin.
Referee: Alan Muir.
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.
