KEVIN SIGN ME UP FOR NATIONAL SERVICE
Nisbet aims to follow in footsteps of McGinn and Porteous by becoming member of Clarke’s Scotland squad
Barnes gathering his effort at the second attempt. At the other end, Cove keeper Stuart McKenzie did well to deny Doidge from close range with his chest. Four minutes into the second half, Nisbet hit the side-netting from a good position inside the box but two minutes later substitute Gullan swept home the equaliser from a Boyle cutback. Hibs’ deadline day signing Kyle Magennis entered the fray to make his debut just before the hour mark, replacing Stephen McGinn. The Easter
Road side took the lead shortly hortly afterwards, Nisbet expertly volleying home from the edge of the box, following a Melker Hallberg cross.
In the last minute, Cove substitute Jamie Semple saw his long-range dipping volley acrobatically tipped over the bar by Barnes.
Hibs boss Jack Ross admitted that having so many of his players coveted by international bosses was a bitter-sweet experience.
He said: “There has been a quick shift in dynamic for us because all of a sudden we have found a number of players involved in international duty.
“For us, the more the merrier because it helps when you are trying to bring players here, although I’d prefer it if they scheduled this competition for a different time so it’s not being played during international weeks.
“We are struggling for numbers, with a few missing because of injury now. We are getting near Pottsy (assistant John Potter) and I pulling on our boots.”
Cove boss Paul Har tley was rightly proud of his team, who gave a great account of themselves against a team that sits third
PROUD Boss Paul Hartley in the top flightflight. He said:said:““We started very well and were excellent throughout the game. “We caused Hibs a lot of problems, so I’m very pleased with that. “We asked the players to make sure we gave them a game and you can be sure that we did that. “This was our first game for seven months and we were against a really good team but we played very well and I’m really delighted with them.”