Dunfermline 0 - 4 Hibs: Old guard still burning bright

Published on Monday 20 July 2009 11:51

KURTIS BYRNE has emerged as the new kid on the block, the Irish youngster having stepped up to the challenge laid down by boss John Hughes to the teenagers who have joined his squad this summer to knock the established Easter Road stars off their pedestals.

Dublin-born Byrne made an impressive start, scoring a hat-trick against East of Scotland outfit Selkirk last Wednesday. But as Byrne, scorer of the goals which clinched an unprecedented League and Cup double for Hibs Under-19 side last season, was adding to that tally with a double as a Hibs XI lost 4-2 at Berwick, the old guard served notice they have no intentions of simply standing aside for the young upstart.

Two goals from Colin Nish and strikes by Derek Riordan and Jonatan Johansson, a belated first in a green-and-white shirt, fired the Edinburgh club to a routine win over First Division Dunfermline, not only delighting a huge travelling support but adding to the feelgood factor which has been swirling around Easter Road since Hughes succeeded Mixu Paatelainen in the hot-seat only a few weeks ago.

While delighted with the performance, result, four goals and a clean sheet, Hughes was quick to insist the main purpose of the outing in Fife was to help enhance his players' fitness, hence the wholesale substitutions which saw only Patrick Cregg of Hibs' starting XI finish the 90 minutes.

Paatelainen, of course, espoused the same mantra a year ago as Hibs endured a tortuous pre-season programme, one which saw his side fail to score a single goal in matches against the likes of Cowdenbeath, Clyde and Raith Rovers, culminating, of course, by that thrashing at the hands of Barcelona.

As with the outcome of this match at East End Park, those results were meaningless when the serious action got underway but, nevertheless, they ensured a cloud of despondency descended on Leith, one which Hibs never quite managed to shake off throughout the following months.

While it remains to be seen just how Hughes' players will fare from 15 August onwards, there's little doubt Hibs fans are now viewing the coming campaign with a sense of optimism, that anticipation reflected in the fact that this friendly kicked off 15 minutes late to allow the supporters crossing the Forth time to enter the ground.

It was estimated some 3500 had made the admittedly short trip to make up the vast bulk of the 4151 crowd who enjoyed not only a promising display of Hughes' promised style of passing football but the return of Moroccan star Merouane Zemmama following a season-long sabbatical in the Middle East as a wrangle over red tape to allow his wife Zenib to settle in this country dragged on.

It was the midfielder's first appearance for Hibs since a brief outing as a substitute against Motherwell at the end of last August but it was as if he had never been away, his feints, twists and turns, footwork, vision and passing ensuring the chant of "Ooh Zemmama" was quickly dusted down to ring around the ground.

Zemmama appeared to strike up an instant understanding with Riordan, the two often exchanging clever, incisive passes, a partnership Hughes obviously hopes will prosper as the former Raja Casablanca player readjusts to the demands of the SPL.

The Hibs boss said: "He brings that bit of quality, a player who can unlock the door. Since he's come back he has been very impressive, not just with his football talent and technique, but his work ethic and his willingness to go and train. He's like a little pocket battleship in terms of power. Now it's about getting an understanding of his culture, forming a trust and letting him go express himself because he is certainly one who gets you off your feet. And it looks like he has a wee smile of his face."

Zemmama was certainly sporting a huge grin as he made way for 19-year-old David Wotherspoon, another of those seeking to force his way into Hughes plans this season, on the hour mark, his willingness to get on the ball and make things happen delighting the Hibs support who were only disappointed when the midfielder failed to get his name on the scoresheet, clipping a shot just wide of the far post.

In those 60 minutes, though, Zemmama showed just how badly missed as he spent last season plying his trade with Al Sha'ab in the United Arab Emirates, Riordan admitting he's relishing playing with the North African ace.

He said: "He's a great player, he creates a lot of chances with his touches and passing so it's brilliant for him to be back."

The return of Zemmama will help ease the pain of losing Steven Fletcher but Nish, who's contribution was so often overlooked when in the presence of the Scotland striker and Riordan, can, Hughes believes, also help fill the void created by the 3 million departure of Fletcher to Burnley.

A goal-line clearance from Pars' Calum Woods had already denied Nish the opening goal against his old club before Paul Hanlon, who powered forward from left-back to good effect as did David van Zanten on the opposite flank, unselfishly turned the ball across the six-yard box for his team-mate to knock the ball home from close range.

Van Zanten did likewise, threading a superb pass through for Nish to cleverly chip Dunfermline goalkeeper Greg Fleming only to find himself denied a hat-trick as he was replaced by Johansson after the interval. Hughes said: "I was delighted for him, he has been a player who has scored goals wherever he has gone. He plays his part. He's a sincere big guy and was disappointed to be taken off as he was wanting that hat-trick. But everyone needed to get a wee shot."

Good play between Cregg and Zemmama allowed the latter to supply a low cross which was nonchalantly turned in by Riordan before Johansson completed the scoring seconds before the final whistle, the Finnish internationalist superbly curling home a shot from 25 yards.

Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre bemoaned the "shocking mistakes" which, in his estimation, led to Hibs' first three goals although he acknowledged the visitors overall superiority although he did see former Hearts striker Andy Kirk hit the woodwork with a header while substitute Steven McDougall forced goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay into a decent close-range save.

Overall, though, Hughes was pleased but still, in his opinion, with work to be done.

He said: "There were bits I was not happy with and bits I will say 'that's good', but we need to keep working away to bring it all together."

Dunfermline: Fleming, Ross, A McCann, Phinn, Woods, Higgins (Muirhead 46), Graham (McDougall 60), Glass (Cardle 60), Kirk, Burke (Holmes 66), Gibson (Willis 71).

Hibs: Ma-Kalambay (Flynn 83), Van Zanten (K McCann 46), Hogg (McCormack 64), Murray (Thicot 64), Hanlon (Stevenson 46), Cregg, McBride (Bamba 46), Rankin (Keenan 66), Zemmama (Wotherspoon 60), Riordan (Galbraith 60), Nish (Johansson 46).

Referee: Steven Nicholls.

Attendance: 4151.