A strong Hibs’ side started their 2018/19 campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Linlithgow Rose at Prestonfield yesterday.
Ross Laidlaw replaced the injured Ofir Marciano in goals but otherwise Neil Lennon was able to select his strongest squad.
David Gray returned from a long-term achilles tendon injury sustained during a friendly against Willem II in January whist Hibs were at their winter training camp.
After a goalless first half in the West Lothian sunshine, Hibs took a deserved lead in the 52nd minute when Gray set up fellow substitute Danny Swanson who curled a fine strike past Gary Maley.
Swanson added a second near the end when he latched onto an Oli Shaw cut-back to fire a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Head Coach Lennon left without speaking to the media who were keen to ask him about potential transfers.
So far Hibs’ only signing has been Florian Kamberi but the club has been linked with former St Mirren midfielder Steve Mallen and Preston North End winger Daryl Horgan.
Last season’s player of the year Dylan McGeouch looks on the verge of signing for Sunderland and Hibs’ fans are waiting to find out the future of John McGinn who featured yesterday.
Hibs face Berwick Rangers on Wednesday night then Blackburn Rovers in Paul Hanlon’s testimonial next weekend.
The first competitive game will be on the 12th July at Easter Road against NSI Runavic in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.
Linlithgow Rose; Malye, Batchelor, Gray, Whelan, Ovenstone, Smith, Ronald, Ru MacLennan, Watt, Coyne, Ro MacLennan. Subs: Kerr, Strickland, Borris, Urquhart, Shields
Hibs: Laidlaw, Whittaker, McGregor, Ambrose, Hanlon, Stevenson, Bartley, Slivka, McGinn, Kamberi, S.Murray. Subs: P Martin, Gray, Boyle, Swanson, S.Martin, Shaw, Mackie
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.
