Hibs fans eye comfortable win as legend recalls 15-1 romp over non-league side

But today the former Easter Road star cautioned not to expect a repeat on Saturday when Irvine Meadow create history by becoming the first Junior club to face SPL opposition in the competition.

Fraser is well aware that many Hibs supporters are rubbing their hands in anticipation of a goal-fest, some even wondering if a repeat of that day almost exactly 49 years ago is on the cards.

Then Peebles were left stunned as Hibs stormed into an 8-1 lead at half-time, Baker having claimed five of them, with the visitors' goal even coming from a former Easter Road youngster – centre-forward Wattie McWilliams.

Baker netted another four after the interval while Willie Ormond got two as did John Baxter with Johnny McLeod and Sammy Baird both scoring one. Even so, Baker ended up one short of the ten his brother Gerry had scored the previous year as St Mirren thumped Glasgow University.

Today Fraser recalled: "Joe was on fire at that time and he really ran riot that day.

"Every time we went up the park, we seemed to score. I don't know if Joe was looking to break Gerry's record but perhaps that was at the back of his mind after he'd scored a couple.

"The game had actually been in doubt because of the weather, the pitch had been flooded and I think when it got to the stage of us scoring four or five, their heads went down a bit and it became a rout.

"Everyone was trying to get his name on the scoresheet, myself included. As a former winger I was probably one of the first over-lapping full-backs, I felt comfortable getting forward but, unfortunately, I didn't manage to get a goal."

Although Hibs are obviously overwhelming favourites to crush "The Medda", Fraser urged boss John Hughes to field his strongest possible side, just as manager Hugh Shaw did in 1961.

Even so, Fraser insisted, a repeat of that legendary feat is unlikely as he acknowledged Hibs are in a "no-win" situation – likely to be castigated if they fail to record anything other than a convincing victory.

He said: "I'm sure John will treat Irvine with respect, he won't be looking to humble them. By the same token, I hope Hibs go about it in the right manner and get a reasonably good score.

"Everyone seems to be thinking of a ridiculously big score but I don't agree. I also think it is a bit disrespectful of your opposition to go talking of scoring a barrow-load of goals.

Irvine Meadow are a good Junior team and I'd expect them to be well-organised, come to Easter Road intent on putting up the shutters and trying to hold Hibs for as long as possible. I'm sure that's what John will be expecting. I might be wrong, but I cannot see it being a hugely high-scoring game.

"I think if Hibs were to win, say, 5-0 then that will fine although, obviously, some supporters will be looking for a lot more. It's never easy, though, to do that.

"I remember when we used to have what was called 'functional training' under Eddie Turnbull when you'd have 11 against a back four and it was unbelieveable just how long it would take to score if that defence was well organised.

"It's always difficult when an opposition team get nine or ten behind the ball and that's what Irvine might try to do, deny Hibs space and get the fans becoming a bit impatient.

"Saturday will be Irvine's Cup final. It will be a great experience for them as it's not every day they get to play a team like Hibs while most of them, I'd imagine, won't have played at an SPL ground.

"The occasion itself will have the adrenalin pumping as will the fact they look likely to bring 2000 or so fans with them which will also give them that extra wee lift."

Junior football may not quite have the "hard man" image of yesteryear, but Fraser anticipates the likes of Derek Riordan being singled out for special atention as Irvine Meadow seek to shackle Hibs' dangermen.

He said: "I remember Joe Baker and Johnny McLeod being farmed out to Junior football, to Armadale Thistle, for a season to toughen them up and it certainly didn't do them any harm.

"If Hibs are going to get something out of the ordinary then Riordan is the player most likely to provide it and I am sure Irvine will be well aware of that.

"But Hibs need to get the ball to him as often as they can. In Sunday's derby against Hearts he didn't get it often enough but then, when he got a bit of space out on the left, he produced a great cross for the goal."

If Fraser doesn't quite see any of today's stars matching Baker's "triple hat-trick" against Peebles, the last non-League opposition Hibs have faced in the Scottish Cup, he believes Anthony Stokes, scorer of seven goals in his last five matches, will be relishing the opportunity to add to his season's tally of 11, as will Riordan as he seeks to maintain his record of being the club's top scorer each year he has been at Easter Road.

He said: "Like Joe, Stokes seems to be on fire at the moment. If Hibs can score early then I'm sure he'll be looking to get among the goals. It looks like both he and Riordan are aiming to be top scorer this season and, if the chance arises, then I'm sure they'll be viewing this match as a possible opportunity to get a few against their names.

"Then again, if Hibs do get four or five ahead, John might look to take one or other, or even both of them off, to give them a bit of a rest, to avoid any unnecessary risk of injury and to perhaps give someone like young Kurtis Byrne a run.

"As I've said, I can't see anything other than a comfortable win at the end of the day for Hibs but it won't be easy and I'd be surprised if all this talk of double figures comes about."

Baker goes on a scoring spree

This report appeared in the Evening News on Monday 13 February 1961:

A look at the score is sufficient to sum up the game at Easter Road, where non-league Peebles Rovers, a goal down in four minutes and behind 8-1 at half-time, were never in the hunt at all.

On a sticky surface where the ball had to be hit very hard indeed, the Edinburgh men were the complete masters, although it has to be recorded that the Hibs defenders were in a scrape more than once against a Peebles forward five who had quite a few tricks up their sleeves on the few occasions they did get the ball.

It must have been particularly satisfying for McWilliam to score the Rovers' only goal against his old side – a well-taken one too as he outjumped everyone to head home.

The man of the match, naturally, was Joe Baker with nine goals, including one from the penalty spot in 60 minutes. And how he struggled for a tenth in the closing minutes. He would have done it, too, if he had not been a bit over-anxious, but there it was. Baker and John McLeod were the Hibs dangerman in a front line where only Tommy Preston failed to find the net.

Peebles goalkeeper Bill Lucas by no means disgraced himself in letting in the proverbial "barrowload". Time and again he was the only man left to stop Baker or one of his colleagues.

Hibs: Simpson, Fraser, McClelland, Grant, Easson, Baird, McLeod, Preston, Baker, Baxter, Ormond.

How the goals unfolded: Baker, Baird, Ormond, Baker, Baker, Baxter, McWilliams (Peebles), Baker, Baker, Baker, Baker, Baker, McLeod, Baker, Ormond, Baxter.

Scorers: Hibs: Baker (9), Baird, Ormond (2), Baxter (2), McLeod. Peebles: McWilliam.