The Paul Heckingbottom era started with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Hamilton in front of over 16.000 fans at Easter Road this afternoon.
The Yorkshireman elected to go with the same starting XI that beat Raith Rovers last Saturday.
Hibs almost took an early lead when Marc McNulty’s cross found Florian Kamberi but Gary Woods produced a fine save from close range.
The ball fell to Stevie Mallan but his strike was blocked and Mark Milligan fired inches wide from 20-yards Hibs took an early lead when Daryl Horgan’s inch perfect cross was tapped into the net by Kamberi.
Moments later Kamberi almost grabbed a second but his looping headed rebounded off the top of the bar and into the arms of Woods who slipped and almost carried the ball over the line.
Hibs added a deserved second from the penalty spot after Lennard Sowah’s reckless challenge on David Gray.
McNulty sent Woods the wrong way to double his side’s advantage.
Hibs continued to dominate throughout the second half and Ziggy Gordon cleared a Kamberi effort off the line before Woods did well to save a McNulty header. With five minutes remaining substitute Stephane Omeonga’s angled drive crashed back into play off the far post.
Hibs should have added a third when Oli Shaw broke clear but his pass to the unmarked Mallan was intercepted.
Hibs: Marciano, Gray, Hanlon, Milligan, Horgan (Omeonga 72’), Slivka, McNulty (Shaw 77’), Mallan, Stevenson, Kamberi (Allan 84’), McGregor. Substitutes not used: Bogdan, Nelom, Bigirimana, Mackie.
Hamilton Academical: Woods, McGowan, Gordon, Kilgallon, Oakley, Miller, Gogic (Mimnaugh 63’), McMillan (Davies 55’), MacKinnon, Andreu (Smith 74’), Sowah. Substitutes not used: Marsden, Penny, Martin, Boyd.
Referee: Alan Muir. Attendance: 16,265.
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.
