Hibs bounced back from Sunday’s defeat to Celtic to take all three points against Hamilton Academical in a five goal thriller at Easter Road tonight.
Head Coach Jack Ross two changes to the starting XI that lost to champions Celtic in Glasgow last Sunday. Lewis Stevenson made history by replacing Josh Doig at left back thereby overtaking the legendry Eddie Turnbull’s appearances for the club whilst on-loan winger Jamie Murphy took over from Drey Wright.
Both Doig and Wright were listed amongst the substitutes. Once again playmaker Scott Allan missed the game due to an illness.
Hamilton Academical manager Brian Rice who started his professional career at Easter Road gave goalkeeper Kyle Gourlay his debut after first choice keeper Ryan Fulton tested positive for coronavirus and listed former Hibs midfielder Scott Martin in his starting line-up. New signing and former Hibs defender Ben Stirling had to be content with a place on the bench.
Hibs started in a positive fashion and had a penalty claim denied after 30 seconds when Martin Boyle went down inside the box. Three minutes later Paul Hanlon got on the end of a Joe Newell corner but Gourlay produced a superb save from the skipper’s effort.
Hibs mounted attack after attack but the Hamilton defence stood firm.
Former Hearts’ midfielder Ross Callachan was booked for cynically chopping down Christian Doidge who was breaking clear then two minutes later Hakeem Odoffin was also shown a yellow card for bundling Boyle over on the edge of the area.
From the resultant free-kick Kevin Nisbet opened the scoring with a tremendous whipped strike which flew round the wall into the bottom corner of the net.
In the 24th minute Paul McGinn set up Boyle whose powerful shot from 22-yards flew inches wide of the post with the keeper stranded.
Ten minutes later Hibs doubled their advantage when Jamie Murphy found Joe Newell on the left. The Englishman then fired in a fantastic cross which Nisbet headed into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
In the next passage of play Stevenson’s long ball was controlled by Doidge who broke clear into the box but Gourlay rushed out and blocked his shot.
Hibs were denied a clear penalty in the 38th minute when Odoffin brought down Newell inside the area but referee Bobby Madden waved play on. Newell landed awkwardly and required treatment.
Murphy was brought down on the edge of the box but Nisbet’s free-kick went over the bar.
In time added on Hamilton had their best chance but David Templeton’s shot flew narrowly past the post.
In the last action of the first half, a powerful strike from Boyle was blocked.
Melker Hallberg replaced Newell at the start of the second half then 10-minutes later Accies were awarded a penalty when McGinn fouled substitute Marious Ogkmpoe just inside the area,
Ogkmpoe took the resultant spot kick but Marciano produced a superb save to keep the two goal advantage.
Hibs continued to attack and Gourlay prevented Nisbet grabbing his second hat trick of the season with a fantastic save.
Moments later Hibs should have had a penalty when Odoffin clearly handled the ball inside the box bit the referee ignored the claims. The ball fell to Nisbet but once again Gourlay saved his shot.
In the 62nd minute Hibs made it 3-0 when Hallberg’s free-kick was headed back across goal by Doidge and Hanlon was on hand to nod the ball into the net from close range.
Nisbet then set up Boyle but once again the keeper saved his angled strike as Hibs looked to increase their lead.
In the 67th minute, Gourlay produced the save of the season to keepout Doidge’s powerful header from Boyle’s cross.
Callachan was lucky to stay on the pitch after kicking Nisbet’s ankle then moments later the visitors were awarded a second penalty of the night when Calum Smith was brought down by Porteous.
Callachan sent the penalty high into the top corner of the net.
With seven minutes remaining, Hamilton pulled another back when Smith’s cross deflected off the head of Porteous leaving Marciano helpless.
Accies threw everything forward in search of an equaliser but Hibs held on to secure a well-deserved three points.
Hibs: Marciano, McGinn, Porteous, Hanlon, Stevenson, Boyle, Gogic, Newell, Murphy, Doidge, Nisbet. Subs: Barnes, Gray, McGregor, Doig, Wright, Hallberg, Mallan, Shanley, Gullan.
Hamilton Academical: Gourlay, Odoffin, NcMann, Hamilton, Collar, Martin, Templeton, Want, Winter, Hodson, Callachan. Subs: Skully, Stirling, Ogkmpoe, Trafford, Mimnaugh, Moyo, Munro, C.Smith, Owolabi
Referee Bobby Madden
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.
