Premier League Hibernian made easy work of their Scottish Cup third round
match with a convincing win over Dunfermline at Easter Road.
Goals from Kenny Miller, Grant Brebner, Ian Murray and Derek Collins ensured
a simple passage against their First Division opponents.
Although not a great game, Hibs were just too strong for the Fifers who
battled hard throughout but just couldn't bridge the gap in class.
The crowd were still settling down when the home side made a sensational
start. In the second minute Hibs right back Derek Collins found himself clear on
the right hand side and when his cross came over young Kenny Miller raced in to
head home from six yards.
The visitors were clearly shell-shocked but soon composed themselves and began
to cause the home side some problems. Dunfermline striker Stevie Hampshire was
unlucky to be caught offside following a nice reverse pass from midfielder Jamie
Dolan.
The swirling wind was making conditions difficult for the players and Hibs
keeper Nicky Colgan had to react quickly to prevent Hampshire reaching a through
ball from Stewart Petrie.
However, the Hibs fans were stunned in the 32nd minute when Dunfermline
equalised.
The goal was an embarrassment for Hibs defender Mathias Jack. The big
German was woefully short with a pass-back which allowed Dunfermline striker
David Graham to round the keeper and slot the ball home.
However, Hibs regained the lead five minutes later when midfielder Brebner was
on hand to flick home a Russell Latapy cutback.
The second half began under a gale force wind which made the game almost
farcical.
Franck Sauzee was the first player to threaten when his free-kick required
good handling by the visitors' keeper Kris Mampaey.
Dunfermline's first attempt on goal in the second period came in the 56th
minute when an Ian Ferguson shot sailed over the bar.
Strangely, both sets of players continued to play the ball up in the air where
its destination became a lottery.
Then out of the blue Hibs scored a third goal. Substitute Ian Murray, only on
the pitch two minutes, reacted quickly to knock the ball in from six yards after
Mampaey had blocked a Miller shot.
Dunfermline tried hard to get back into the game but the Edinburgh team's
defence was holding firm.
Sauzee was determined to get his name on the scoresheet and another effort
from the midfielder blazed over the bar.
Hibs sealed a comfortable victory in the 86th minute when they scored their
fourth. Collins ran onto a Latapy pass and coolly lobbed keeper Mampaey.
In the end Hibs ran out easy winners and now go into the hat for the fourth
round draw.
Teams
Hibernian: Colgan, Collins, Hughes, Jack, Smith,
Brebner (Hartley 68), Sauzee, Latapy, Lovell (Murray 65),
Miller, Paatelainen (Lehmann 68).
Booked: Paatelainen.
Goals: Miller 2, Brebner 38, Murray 66, Collins 87.
Dunfermline: Mampaey, Dair, Tod, Reid (Coyle 68), McGroaty,
Thomson, Ferguson, Dolan (Moss 77), Petrie, Graham, Hampshire.
Subs Not Used: Potter.
Goals: Graham 32.
Att: 10,863.
Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook