Hibernian 2 - 1 Bohemians: Hibs enjoy winning run out against Bohemians

A LOW-KEY match which looked like being plain sailing for Hibernian last night ended with them holding on to a narrow lead against a disappointing Bohemians side. First-half goals from Martin Scott and Liam Miller seemed to have done enough to wrap up the victory against the Irishman, but a raft of changes by manager Colin Calderwood at half-time robbed the SPL side of their rhythm.

Potentially more importantly, striker Ricardo Vaz Te was forced off late on after being the recipient of a couple of heavy tackles in what was otherwise the most amicable of friendlies.

The purpose of the match was to give Hibs a run out in the middle of a four-week stretch without a competitive game, and it would be unfortunate if its main consequence were to be a doubt about the Portuguese player's fitness to play in the Edinburgh derby on Sunday week.

Even if Vaz Te only has to miss training for a couple of days, that will still be a setback for a player who is still searching for match fitness. That worry apart, there was little to concern Calderwood in the match, though it should be said there was not much for him to be too enthusiastic about either.

Bohemians, who lie second in the League of Ireland after three games, were forced into an early change when Anto Flood went down with an injury. They had already come under some pressure from Hibs by that time, and shortly after Chris Fagan came off the bench Vaz Te had the first scoring chance of the night, going just wide with a low shot from outside the box.

It was the Portuguese striker's first game at Easter Road since signing as a free agent last month, while on-loan goalkeeper Jakub Divis was making his debut. In the back four there was a rare outing for centre-half David Stephens and a return to the starting line-up for right-back Michael Hart. Lewis Stevenson slotted in at left-back, allowing Richie Towell an outing in midfield.

Victor Palsson, Calderwood's key transfer-window signing who has anchored the midfield since joining from Liverpool, was rested, but the presence of Matt Thornhill and Martin Scott helped Hibs maintain the greater physical competitiveness they have shown in accumulating an unbeaten run of half a dozen games.

Up front Vaz Te was partnered by Derek Riordan, who, after a poor clearance from visiting goalkeeper Barry Murphy, attempted an audacious first-team shot but was some way off target.

Hibs continued to dominate the game without displaying too much urgency, although they did vary their attacks well, at times trying to pass their way into the Bohemians penalty area, at others sending high balls into the box for Vaz Te to knock down.The striker should have opened the scoring after half an hour when he latched on to a through ball, but he took a touch too many and was off balance by the time he sent a shot past the right post.

At last, seven minutes before the break, the pressure paid off. Miller's through ball bisected the Bohemians defence, and Scott took a steadying touch before shooting on the turn. Murphy got down to the shot, but allowed it to slip under his body and into the net.

Having made the breakthrough, Hibs added another with two minutes of the first half to play. This time Scott turned provided and Miller became goalscorer, with the latter beating the offside trap to collect the former Ross County player's through ball, then chipping over Murphy as the keeper ran out of his goal.

Calderwood made five substitutions at the start of the second half, including debuts for Scott Smith and Scott Taggart, as well as changing a couple of players' positions. The upheaval to the home team's line-up did not immediately undermine their control of the game, but it did take them almost ten minutes to register their first real attempt on goal of the half, a shot from Smith which Murphy blocked.

The only real concern in a match which was progressing so smoothly for Hibs was that Divis was hardly called in to play. Perhaps sensing this, several of his team-mates started providing him with testing back passes, all of which he despatched in relative comfort.

That was perhaps a sign that Hibs were becoming too slack, because shortly afterwards some loose defending against a rare Bohemians attack resulted in a penalty when Ian Murray was ruled to have brought down Fagan. The substitute netted into the left corner of Divis's net, forcing Hibs to play the rest of the match with more urgency than they had apparently intended to do.

Hibernian: Divis, Hart (S Smith 46), Dickoh (Murray 46), Stephens, Towell (Duffy 46), Thicot, Miller (Taggart 46), Scott (Nish 66), Thornhill, Vaz Te (Galbraith 78), Riordan (Byrne 46). Sub not used: G Smith.

Bohemians: Murphy (Sexton 85), Heary (Dwane 78), Cahill, Rossiter, Burns, Price, Dixon (Burke 56), Flood (Fagan 6, Joyce 67), Brennan, O'Brien (Buckley 86), Bayly (Traynor 62).

Referee: J McKendrick

Attendance: 3,738