Hibs qualified for the Premier Sports Cup quarter finals but made heavy weather of beating Partick Thistle at Easter Road this afternoon.
Due to limited demand, the Famous Five Stand remained closed with the Block Seven Ultras moving to Section 43 of the Pat Stanton Stand.
The visitors brought a large support that occupied the lower section of the South Stand.
David Gray made four changes from their 0-0 draw away to Shkendija, with Kanayo Megwa, Jack Iredale, Joe Newell and Jamie McGrath coming in.
Felix Passlack and Miguel Chaiwa were on the bench, while Jordan Obita and Callum Wright were not included.
It was McGrath’s first start of the season, while Nicky Cadden was fit for a place among the subs.
Partick Thistle made one change with Tony Watt replacing Alex Samuel up front.
Hibs started on the front foot and took a deserved lead in the 11th minute.
McGrath’s through ball found Iredale on the left. The wing-back fired a low cross and Owen Elding raced in to tap the ball into the back of the net.
But Thistle refused to lie down and Seb Drozd’s shot from the edge of the box flew over the crossbar.
Just before the break Jack Iredale intercepted a pass in midfield and his ball found Elding. He took a touch and fired an angled shot off the crossbar.
Nathan Lowe then tried his luck but the keeper did well to save his effort.
Just after the restart Elding and Megwa combined down the right but the Northern Irishman’s effort was blocked.
Mayor almost doubled Hibs advantage moments later but his powerful strike was tipped round the post.
Iredale was booked for illegally stopping a breakaway as Thistle looked to get back into the game.
Hibs should have added a second when Lowe sent a beautiful through ball into the path of Elding but for once the youngster took a poor first touch and the keeper was able to block his shot.
The ball fell to McGrath who attempted a subtle lob but it was too high.
The visitors were then awarded a penalty after the ball appeared to strike Joe Newell’s arm.
But referee Duncan Nicolson was advised to review that decision and quickly changed his mind.
Partick dominated from then on and it took several good saves from Raphael Sallinger to deny the Glasgow side.
And in the end Hibs held on to secure the victory and a place in the quarter finals.
After the final whistle Gray told BBC Scotland “I’ve just massively praised the players because of everything that went into this week. Winning at Ibrox, travelling to Macedonia and getting through that tie, the quick turnaround and getting through the cup, it was always going to be a really difficult game.
“We’re in the next round of the cup, we’re competing at every level and we want this to continue for as long as we can.”
Partick Thistle head coach Mark Wilson added: “We started the game poorly, too many unforced errors and against Premiership sides you get punished when you start like that.
“I thought we were brilliant in the second half, played on the front foot, maybe not as many clear-cut chances as we’d like. I’m super pleased with the boys and how they performed.”
Hibs head to Belgium to take on Gent in the first leg of their Conference League play-off on Thursday
Hibs: Sallinger, Megwa, O’Hora, Kerr, Iredale, Mayor, Mulligan, Newell, McGrath, Elding, Lowe.
Substitutes: Smith, Boyle, Chaiwa, Klidje, Cadden, Suto, Passlack, Campbell, Abdulai.
Partick Thistle: McFarlane, McPherson, Loughrey, O’Reilly, Reading, Lets’osa, Smyth, Drozd, Crawford, Fitzpatrick, Watt.
Substitutes: Budinauckas, Logan, Dempsey, Samuel, Ingram, Falconer, Stanway, Miller, Horn
