Hibernian destroyed Clyde at Easter Road to cruise into the fourth round of
the Scottish Cup.
Alex McLeish's Scottish Premier League outfit proved their class by dominating
a potentially tricky tie.
Allan Maitland's First Division battlers had no answer to Hibs' incisive
football which yielded six goals and a hatful of chances.
Ulrik Laursen, Mathias Jack, Franck Sauzee and Mixu Paatelainen all netted
before a Dirk Lehmann double left Clyde dazed and demoralised.
Maitland's men fought bravely until the end and received warm applause from
both sets of fans when Mark McLaughlin drove a consolation goal past Nick Colgan
six minutes from time, but it was Hibs' day.
Hibs made a bright start and had the ball in the net after just two minutes.
Paatelainen challenged Clyde keeper Bryn Halliwell for a high ball and the
ball rolled into the net.
However, referee Alan Freeland penalised the Finn and awarded a freekick to
the visitors.
Paatelainen was having his own personal joust against Halliwell in an
entertaining opening period.
The Clyde keeper saved bravely at the hitman's feet just seconds after, making
a comfortable save from a 20-yard effort from the striker.
Most of the action centred around Halliwell's goal as Hibs turned the screw.
Lehmann watched in disbelief as the youngster somehow scrambled his effort
from close range inches wide of target after 21 minutes.
But the respite was short-lived as Hibs took the lead from the resulting
corner.
Russell Latapy provided the ammunition from the left and Danish defender
Laursen rose unchallenged to glance home a header from the six-yard line.
Hibs were in control and doubled their lead after 28 minutes with a goal made
in Germany.
Lehmann did the spade work with a delightful run and cross from the left and
Jack was perfectly placed in the penalty area to plant a clever volley beyond
Halliwell.
Halliwell continued to face a siege as goal-hungry Hibs kept up the pace.
Latapy was denied when the keeper stood tall to block his fierce angled drive.
The Clyde ace bettered that effort with a wonderful dive and save to deny
Lehmann from a diving header.
But the young keeper was powerless to prevent Franck Sauzee making it 3-0 in
first-half injury time with a magnificent free-kick from the edge of the area
which hit the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Hibs required only a minute of the second half to increase their lead when
Paatelainen made it 4-0.
The burly Finn took advantage of slack Clyde defending to drive the ball
beyond an exposed Halliwell from 12 yards.
McLeish knew the tie was over and quickly withdrew key men Latapy and Jack
with Tuesday's important league match Kilmarnock in mind.
But their substitutions did not slow the avalanche of goals as Lehmann's first
two strikes of the season within four minutes took Hibs' tally to six.
The German striker remained cool to lob Halliwell for his first after 59
minutes and drove a spectacular left-foot effort high into the net for his
second shortly after.
Teams:
Hibernian: Colgan, Sauzee, Fenwick, Gary Smith,
Lovell (Zitelli 70), Latapy (Andrews 53), O'Neil,
Jack (Brebner 56), Laursen, Paatelainen, Lehmann.
Subs Not Used: Franks, Dennis.
Goals: Laursen 22, Jack 28, Sauzee 45, Paatelainen 46,
Lehmann 59, 63.
Clyde: Halliwell, Murray, McLaughlin, Smith, Greer, Ross,
Crawford (Cranmer 50), Millen, Keogh, McClay (Hendry 76),
Grant (Kane 65).
Subs Not Used: Cook, Bingham.
Booked: Keogh, Kane.
Goals: McLaughlin 84.
Att: 9,494
Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook