Benjelloun's brilliance puts Dons to the sword

Published on Friday 19 January 2007 00:06

FINDING their motivation in the loss of a goal after just ten minutes, Hibernian finally found the cutting edge required to defeat Aberdeen last night. The Pittodrie side have frustrated Hibs on four occasions this season, but the manner of this victory will have made up for the injustice felt at the outcome of those previous encounters. It also represents Hibs' biggest victory over Aberdeen in 37 years.

Hibs built on the lead provided by Michael Stewart's stunning 45th minute strike, and had extinguished Aberdeen's cup hopes within ten minutes of the re-start. An already satisfying week for Hibs was crowned by a quick-fire brace from substitute Abdessalam Benjelloun, and in the remaining portion of the match the home side were able to preserve energy ahead of Sunday's trip to Inverness.

The journey to the Highlands forms the last leg of what might prove a pivotal week of assignments. The more romantic Hibs fans will have wished most ardently for success last night, with the Scottish Cup having resisted the clutches of the club since 1902. Few present at Easter Road last night could possibly bet against this year being the year; and that includes Gretna coaches Ray Farningham and Davie Irons. The First Division side face Hibs in the fourth round, and the pair looked shaken as they left their seats with 20 minutes of the match remaining.

Aberdeen sprang a surprise with the inclusion of Russell Anderson, the skipper having been declared a severe doubt pre-match due to a hamstring injury. His presence was required during an early spell when Hibs swarmed at the away defence. The game began to assume the aspect of a cup-tie when Aberdeen finally made it an end-to-end encounter after this spell of one-way traffic.

Stevie Lovell, in for the injured Craig Brewster, should have converted a cross from Darren Mackie but within minute the former Dundee striker had played a vital role in opening goal. His contribution was only possible after the failure of Hibs to sufficiently break-down an attack, with Chris Hogg and then Rob Jones proving unable to guide the ball into safety. Barry Nicholson took possession on the edge of the box, played a one-two with Lovell, and then planted a shot past Andrew McNeil. The very reason we were back at Easter Road had again made an impact on the tie.

But it didn't prove as effective a finale as his last-minute equaliser at Pittodrie last week. With over 80 minutes remaining, one suspected Aberdeen would struggle to preserve the lead on a night which had already produced an abundance of scoring opportunities. This assumption was proved correct within minutes. Another corner from Hibs, this time taken by Dean Shiels, was the source of danger, and Steven Fletcher's header was this time presented with a clear passage towards the net. His effort sailed into the top corner, and for all the energy expended in the these frantic opening minutes we were back where we were. But this didn't stop both sides seeking to establish another foot-hold, and Aberdeen sensed a chance after McNeil was penalised for picking up a Ryan Stevenson back-pass. The obligatory chaos ensued, and amid the jostling inside the box as the Hibs players sought to defend their goal McNeil was able to find a clear enough view to clutch Scott Severin's fierce shot from 12 yards out.

Hibs, with Stewart preferred in midfield to former skipper Kevin Thomson, had their moments, but Aberdeen boasted territorial advantage as the half grew to a close.

Their failure to capitalise on this made what followed more wounding. In the seconds before half-time Hibs again show-cased how devastating a corner-kick can prove. Shiels picked out Stewart as he lingered with intent outside the box, and his volley, which appeared to come off his shin, dipped over Langfield and into the net. It was a goal designed for live television cameras.

Stewart's intervention was made more memorable due to the fact it represented his last touch of the match, with the player replaced at half-time by Thomson. Benjelloun also came on for Shiels, with the Hibs shape shifting into a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation.

Neither the interval break nor the change in personnel served to disrupt a team buoyed by Stewart's departing gift.

It was a challenge that looked utterly beyond them after just ten minutes of the second-half had elapsed. By this stage Benjelloun had wreaked havoc, with the Moroccan substitute scoring just two minutes after he was introduced.

Thomson and Fletcher combined on the left, and the latter's intelligently-played ball found Benjelloun in an alarming amount of space. His instincts were found to be sharp, and after side-footing Langfield the striker simply rolled the ball into the net.

It already looked a desperate situation for Aberdeen, but Benjelloun simply deepened their misery with a second after 55 minutes. Langfield, who gifted Hibs a goal at Pittodrie last week, again looked suspect when seeking to deal with a Benjelloun shot from the edge of the box. While well-struck and on target, it had appeared blockable. Langfield, however, allowed the ball to slip through him, and through these same hands went Aberdeen's chances of remaining in the cup.

Sublime 'shin shot' perfect tonic for sick Stewart

AFTER three draws and a defeat against Aberdeen already this season, Michael Stewart believed Hibernian were due a result in the fixture. He told his team-mates that before last night's Scottish Cup replay at Easter Road, then went on to play his part in the victory with a delightful volley which gave his team a 2-1 half-time lead.

Stewart failed to reappear for the second half, when two goals from substitute Abdessalam Benjelloun wrapped up a 4-1 win for the home side, and he revealed afterwards that he had hardly been able to stop vomiting throughout the 45 minutes he was on the pitch.

"Ten to 15 minutes into the game I just felt energy-less and heavy-legged," the midfielder said. "I was sick after about 15 minutes, then again every couple of minutes. I can't remember being sick so many times before. For the last two or three weeks I'd had it lingering around, but wasn't feeling terrible."

That period included a goalless draw in the league against Aberdeen, and the 2-2 match last week in their first meeting in the cup. Previous league meetings had yielded another draw and a 2-2 defeat, and Stewart was determined that things would be different last night.

"I'd spoken prior to the game about how, over the four previous games this season, we were the better team in three. I was very disappointed not to have beaten them. So this result was long overdue."

Stewart's goal, which came after a Steven Fletcher header had cancelled out Barry Nicholson's opener, came from a corner which Dean Shiels floated over to where he was standing on the far edge of the box. Television replays showed Stewart had connected with the bottom of his shin, but he was happy nonetheless with one of the sweetest strikes of his career.

"Obviously I'm very delighted with the goal," he added. "I don't want to talk about it too much, it's a bit embarrassing, but it was a great goal. These are crucial periods to score, and it made a great difference. It's been a wee bit of a freak shot. If it was off the shin it was a fantastic shin shot."

John Collins, the Hibernian manager, was just as delighted with the result, which sets up a fourth-round meeting at home to Gretna. Having already beaten the First Division leaders 6-0 this season in the CIS Cup, Hibs will be strong favourites to progress to the quarter-finals, but Collins was happier looking back over the evening than ahead.

"We showed great determination and great spirit," he said. "The goal just before half-time came at a perfect time for us, and it was a perfect strike.

"Michael was struggling, but he wanted to stay on. He's a good football player. It's about time he scored, right enough."

STUART BATHGATE

Derelict defending leaves Calderwood fuming

ABERDEEN manager Jimmy Calderwood bemoaned his side's defending after they exited the Scottish Cup last night at Easter Road. The result makes it only a solitary win for the Pittodrie side in their last seven league and cup matches, and the only positive they can take from the elimination is that it came after only 90 minutes of action.

Calderwood was conscious of the threat of extra-time impacting further on a side who must re-group quickly ahead of tomorrow's trip to Motherwell in the league. By the 55th minute last night, when Abdessalam Benjelloun struck Hibs' fourth goal, it was all over, and Calderwood was able to turn his attention to their next assignment, which approaches alarmingly soon. Russell Anderson and Michael Hart are already struggling, while Scott Severin was taken off last night after receiving a knock.

The squad stayed last night in Dunfermline, where they will train today. A hotel nearer Motherwell will be their base tonight as they continue to soothe their wounds after last night's reversal, Aberdeen's biggest defeat against Hibs since 1970.

"It's very disappointing," said Calderwood. "Hibs started strongly as they normally do, but we managed to come back into it after the first ten minutes and played a lot better. We got a good goal, although to be honest I thought all the goals were good tonight.

"Young Fletcher had already got above Andy [Considine] once from a corner, and saw his header hit, I think, the post. Then he did it again for their goal. That was very sloppy on our part. But, except for in defence, the first-half was probably the best we have played recently."

Aberdeen were undone on the stroke of half-time by Michael Stewart, whose spectacular volley meant Calderwood was forced to rally his players during the interval. His plans for a comeback were smashed apart by a seven-minute double from Benjelloun after the re-start.

"I felt we were very comfortable, and were knocking it about well," said Calderwood. "Then they got a corner, and we didn't react. It was a goal fit to win any game, but we have to look at ourselves. We should never be giving goals away from corners, especially with just 30 seconds to go until half-time. It was a crucial moment.

"They are a great bunch of lads, and I told them at half-time just to keep going," he added. "But then we gifted them two goals at the start of the second-half.

"I am very disappointed how we defended, and I am not just talking about the back four. I mean the whole team. We're very down at the moment, but we are third top of the league and we have to make sure we are at least that on Saturday night."

ALAN PATTULLO