Hibs qualify for Betfred League Cup last 16 with victory in Highlands

Hibs qualified for the last 16 of the Betfred League Cup
with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Elgin City in the Highlands last night but
the result came at a cost with Martin Boyle suffering a potentially serious
knee injury.

Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom made five changes to the side that defeated Arbroath on Tuesday evening with Ofir Marciano, Steven Whittaker, Darren McGregor, Daryl Horgan and Christian Doidge all returning to the side.

Hibs started on the front foot and almost opened the scoring
in the opening minutes when Forian Kamberi’s powerful strike from 20 yards flew
inches wide.

The visitors were denied a penalty when Christan Doidge
appeared to be fouled by Euan Spark as he contested a corner kick however
referee Willie Collin waved away his appeal.

Hibs eventually took a deserved lead in the 10^th
minute when Collum played advantage after Stevie Mallan had been fouled. The
ball fell to Daryl Horgan whose cross was knocked home by Joe Newell from close
range.

Hibs continued to dominate and further opportunities and
Elgin keeper Thomas McHale did well to deny Kamberi from the edge of the area.

Kamberi should have made it 2-0 when he turned in  Doidge’s knock down at the back post but
incredibly the linesman raised his flag despite the Swiss striker being at
least two yards onside.

Ofir Marciano produced a superb save from Rabin Omar to retain
Hibs’ lead just after the restart then McHale did likewise to deny Mallan from
25 yards.

Hibs continued to press forward in search of a second goal
but the hosts looked dangerous on the break and Marciano again did well to save
from Kane Hester.

The decisive goal arrived when man of the match Kamberi pounced
on a poor pass from Omar to race through on goal and slot past McHale to the
relief and delight of the large travelling support.

Horgan, Mallan and Kamberi all had chances to add a third
before a late injury picked up by substitute Martin Boyle meant that Hibs played
the final seven minutes with ten men as they had already made their three substitutions.

Boyle hobbled off with an injury to the same knee that
caused him problems last season and the management staff will assess the extent
of the knock this week.

As Group C winners Hibs join Ross County and Partick Thistle
in the knockout stage.

The other five group winners and four best runners-up will
be decided this weekend, with 13 games on Saturday and two on Sunday, to join
Scotland’s four European representatives in the last 16.

After the final whistle Heckingbottom slammed assistant
referee Douglas Ross’ decision to flag Kamberi’s first-half strike offside:
“It was a stinker. It was probably the worst I’ve ever seen in terms of
distance onside. It’s a bad one.”

Hibs face Newcastle United at Easter Road on Tuesday ahead
of their opening league game at home to St Mirren next Saturday.

Elgin City: McHale, Wilson (Willis 77’), Spark, McDonald,
Bronsky, Dingwall, Cooper, MacEwan (O’Keefe 59’), Hester, Sutherland, Omar
(Loveland 88’). Substitutes not used: McGowan, Ballam, Scott, Dunn.

Hibernian: Marciano, Whittaker, Jackson, McGregor, Mackie,
Horgan (Boyle 65’), Vela, Mallan, Newell, Kamberi (Shaw 82’), Doidge (Allan
75’).  Substitutes not used: Maxwell,
Hanlon, James, Murray.

Referee: Willie Collum.

Attendance: 2,106.