Scottish Cup: Hibernian 1 - 0 Kilmarnock: Resurgent Hibs smother Killie

By MOIRA GORDON
Published on Sunday 5 February 2012 00:00

IT MAY be a work in progress but at least there are finally some signs that progress is being made. Not only did Hibs defy the Scottish Cup gremlins and edge through to the quarter-finals of the competition, they did it by keeping their first clean sheet at home since September.

Five of the winter signings started this one for Hibs and, in the first home game since the transfer window closed, their impact was immediate. There was movement, there was energy, there was dig and, most importantly, there was solid defending as well as an end product. Until now the poor Easter Road fans had rarely seen any of those commodities from their own team this season and never in the same game.

But, for the first 25 minutes, Hibs were a team reborn as they took the game by the scruff of the neck and gave Kilmarnock precious little of the space they usually create with their crisp passing and neat interplay. The away team battled back and while their manager, Kenny Shiels, was correct to insist that they did dominate possession for long spells, even he has to realise that converting that into goals is the crucial part.

“I’m disappointed with the result but not the performance,” said the Rugby Park gaffer. “We did everything we could.”

But defensively Hibs bettered them, while in the other key department, the Leith outfit outscored them. And as the long-suffering home fans will tell you, those are the factors that matter.

Buoyed by their progress into the final of the League Cup, Kilmarnock were hoping for an extended run in the other major knockout tournament and, given Hibs’ infamous drought in the Scottish Cup, allied to the capital side’s form this term, they will have had every confidence. But Hibs boss Pat Fenlon has made the most of the January transfer window. Until yesterday, they had mustered only two clean sheets at home all season. One was in the 5-0 victory over Berwick Rangers, a team three divisions below them, and the other a dreadful 0-0 draw with Aberdeen away back in September. Since then finding that impenetrability at home has been tougher than unearthing the Holy Grail. Yesterday, though, against a team with a good attacking pedigree, they were resolute.

“I thought we showed great character and defended well as a team. They put in a shift today and got their reward,” said Fenlon.

Joking with one reporter who admitted they hadn’t seen much of Hibs recently, he labelled them lucky before admitting that his team had worked hard as a team.

“We scored an early goal, which helped. It gave everyone something to hold onto for a change because we haven’t always started games properly and then everyone gets a bit edgy but I think they showed today that their workrate and enthusiasm for the game was first class.”

The goal came in the 15th minute when new full back, Gambian Pa Kujabi, cut the ball back for Eoin Doyle and the Irishman directed the ball into the net.

It was actually the second time Hibs had beaten Cammy Bell, but the first effort nine minutes earlier was ruled out for jostling in the box. They also had a sniff at extending their lead in the 18th minute but Bell denied them. Before the game began to even itself out and settle down.

For all that Shiels was keen to hint at possible penalty shouts his men were denied and switch focus to claims that Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack has been a serial time-waster, saying he had frequently failed to release the ball within the allocated six seconds, the fact is his men couldn’t find a way beyond the solid new Hibs defence and the suggestion that the Hibs keeper had stretched it as long as 25 seconds a time sounded like sour grapes.

James McPake was the epitome of all that has been missing from the last line of defence. Eager to make up for the red card he picked up on his debut, at Rangers last weekend, he assumed the captain’s responsibilities, his marshalling of the men around him saw them perform as a unit, while the addition of fellow new boys Matthew Doherty and Pa Kujabi helped Paul Hanlon and denied Killie too many avenues to explore, signalling a raft of long-range efforts but very few real threatening shots.

Even as the minutes ticked down, with the solitary goal separating the sides, there was no panic in the Hibs ranks, no evidence of the jitters which have crippled them in the past. On the contrary, they were chasing down loose balls, sticking tightly to their counterparts and charging down shots.

They stopped Killie stretching the game, snuffing out the threat out wide with Tom Soares and David Wotherspoon instead emerging as the widemen posing the bigger questions out on the flanks.

Shiels stated that his men had “killed” Hibs with their passing and movement but the real truth was that Hibs won the game with their 15th minute goal then suffocated Killie.

There are still frailties in the Hibs side but they are no longer in defence. Dunfermline’s Jim Macintyre was in the crowd and he will have left troubled by what he saw. Hibs previously looked like they would be keeping them company in the relegation battle long-term but, after yesterday, that is no longer a given.

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150

Sir Brian Hine QC

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:29 PM

148 - Morning Dood -yes that does sound like asking for trouble - I had half a bottle of Baileys mixed with a pint of creme de menthe - lovely but the only problem was I saw Mrs Sir Brian Hine double - never again........TOTT....TOTT...............TOTT..........TOTT............TOTT........................TOTT...........TOTT.........TOTT.................TOTT.....................TOTT................TOTT...........TOTTY........TOTTY HEID....

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149

Littlest Hobo

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:19 AM

Ref Dood and Mr Hibs.... The name THRUSH for tott is a belter. Ha ha ha keep it up lads. Glory Glory.

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148

Dood

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:14 AM

#146 - Morning Sir Brian. I have some sound advice for you, a real top tip....... Never open a bottle of Tio Pepe and sit down to watch the Superbowl. Carnage in Dood Towers......

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147

Dood

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:12 AM

Are you OK Hen? You've not commented on a thread for over 11 hours - very odd for a man of your 'standards'. I appreciate that you were ripped apart yesterday in the manner that a cheap, value range supermarket toilet roll would disintegrate, but you normally bounce back for more in your true head buried in the sand state. I was looking forward to more of your pearlers today. Like the one where you refer to Hobo Harry as a 'wee sweetie wife seeking approval'. Utter comedy genius Tootles, comedy genius. Oh, if only you had the intelligence to understand the word Irony.

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146

Sir Brian Hine QC

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 09:18 AM

I see TOTT, aka, TITT is at it again in 92 – I’ve not even mentioned him or even commented on him but yet again his obsession with me is too great, his need to stop hating himself is incredible as he continually refuses to go into therapy. Again his LYING, RACIST BIGOTRY is there for all to see, however, this time, I am going to again show him up for what he is……A LYING RACIST BIGOT. He continues to bring up this fictional Hibs supporter who is SO disturbed by my post one day that it was never actually ever printed, never mentioned to anyone, anywhere on ANY forum, except in TITT’s head and so he made up this fictional character to deflect the atrocious behaviour he deemed acceptable - Let me remind you all of the post I made that he has always tried to deflect by his insane dribbling, – it was of course to do with the fact that this man, worryingly a Grandfather to several grandchildren and siblings of his own, supported the child molester and now registered sex offender CT that was not only supported by his club but strongly backed by... T O T T – For many weeks he made the case that there was nothing to answer to for this monster and he should be given a second chance – Clearly one of the reasons he changed his name. He will of course continue to try to score little points against me and any other who dare question his intellect and continuing to make up story’s to deflect from his conscience, but, as we all KNOW the TRUTH about this vile man, I can continue to sleep at ease.

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145

Safe Harbour

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:36 PM

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144

DonfromOz

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:08 PM

What a good result, and by the sounds of the reports a good game with lots of improvements, just maybe Pat is on the right track, this group of players will save us from relegation and in the summer Pat can sign some more super stars and we're back to winning ways at Easter Road!!!!! The Future is bright

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143

Hen Broon

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:02 PM

Rudolf....i am purely going on the SEMI.....no big team : wee team just facts....Hibs did not even come close to selling their tickets for the biggest Hearts Hibs game sine 1896. sine then Hibs core support has dropped considerably. HARBOUR......U have failed to back up your CT allegation(u could easily post the link)....U have been exposed not for the first time a a blatant liar....... U have made racist allegations despite U knowing U R blatantly lying........ U have made allegations of bigotry which U know is nonsense.....U R in summary a low jife blatant liar seeking retribution for me highlighting the stupidity of your 'football' related posts(as well as the Lewis right back nonsense U R the clown who said CC will turn Hibs around with minor tweeking).....Hb H lodging his head up your backside does not alter same. However I forgive you because u R desperate and U had the balls to call YAK as he is........no amount of backtracking can alter that however hard U try to redeem yourself by comprimising whats left of your integrity. Bitterness is a terrible trait..

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142

Hobo Harry

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:43 PM

141 Safe Harbour Indeed you are correct. I speak three languages myself but I still can't imagine ever wanting to learn to translate that gobbledygook. I think that type of task would be the sort of thing that a person would take on as a labour of love to be honest. A bit like hieroglyphics really.

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141

Safe Harbour

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:36 PM

#139 Hobo Harry. Ah yes but Horace has had the advantage of having many translators through the years. I would venture that these same translators would admit defeat on reading Merv's comments.

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140

Safe Harbour

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:32 PM

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139

Hobo Harry

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:29 PM

131 Safe Harbour In fairness to Merv, I do see some similarities in his writing to that of the works of Horace. It is certainly the case that I would have as much chance of understanding the written Latin word of Horace as I do of understanding some of Merv's posts.

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138

Safe Harbour

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:26 PM

For goodness sake. This is pathetic. Your a lucky man ToTT.

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137

Rudolf Hucker

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:24 PM

#135...and Hibs would sell out a final. You probably can't prove you did and I can't prove a negative so there it should end. Your average for your two home ties in the cup this season is the same as Hibs crowd yesterday but I'm sure you'll have some answer as to why this is. A sure sign that Hibs are getting things right is when Hearts fans start big team wee team, big crowds, 1902 etc.

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136

Safe Harbour

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:24 PM

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