Hibernian encountered few problems as they eased into the fourth round of the Tennent's Scottish Cup with a superb display against Arbroath.

It took the Easter Road side 40 minutes to break the deadlock when Scott Brown bundled home a Derek Riordan cross.

Ivan Sproule added a second before the interval and Michael Stewart, Garry O'Connor, Brown and Steven Fletcher rounded off a comfortable win in the second half.

Hibs settled the better of the two sides and conjured up a series of chances within the first 20 minutes of the game.

The Easter Road club were keen to utilise the pace of winger Sproule on the right and he terrorised the Arbroath defence.

Within the first 60 seconds, Brown found the Northern Ireland international with a long-range pass but his left-footed shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Sproule gave Red Lichties' defender Marc McCulloch a torrid time as he showed a neat piece of skill to tee up Brown on the edge of the box but the youngster's shot sailed over the bar.

Sam Morrow and Derek Riordan then missed chances in a goal mouth scramble in the 17th minute.

Tony Mowbray's side should have taken the lead in the 34th minute when Morrow turned in the box after collecting a Stewart pass although he hit the ball straight at keeper Mark Peat.

Hibs, however, finally broke the deadlock in the 40th minute following a short corner which saw Riordan's cross bundled home by Brown.

The home side doubled their advantage in the 44th minute after Sproule stormed into the box before powering a shot past Peat.

Hibs continued to dominate after the break but, after scoring his side's second, Sproule was then guilty of missing an embarrassing sitter.

The winger latched onto Morrow's through ball and did the hard part by rounding the keeper.

However, with the goal gaping from just eight yards, Sproule failed to hit the target as his left-footed shot sailed into the stand behind the goal.

Stewart then got in on the act as he scored a fine solo goal in the 63rd minute.

The former Hearts midfielder cut inside from 22 yards before drilling a right-footed shot beyond Peat.

Hibs brought on the rested O'Connor for Morrow in the 71st minute and he scored with one of his first touches of the game.

Riordan's cross from the wing was not properly cleared and the striker pounced to place the ball under Peat from close range.

Brown made it five with a venomous shot from 25 yards in the 77th minute and Fletcher added a sixth with a cool finish five minutes from time.

Teams

Hibernian Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Hogg, Murphy, Sproule, Stewart (McCluskey 69), Scott Brown, Glass, Riordan (Fletcher 75), Morrow (O'Connor 71).

Subs Not Used: Rudge, Nelson.

Goals: Scott Brown 40, Sproule 45, Stewart 63, O'Connor 74, Scott Brown 78, Fletcher 85.

Arbroath Peat, Rennie, Watson, McMullen, Cook, Jackson (Davidson 69), Bishop, Stein (Black 16), McCulloch, Miller, King (Reilly 48).

Subs Not Used: Inglis, Dobbins.

Booked: McCulloch.

Att: 10,523

Ref: W Collum (Scotland).