Lennon delighted with Hibs kids after cup win

NEIL Lennon is delighted with the progress Hibernian’s young players are making after watching Fraser Murray and Ryan Porteous shine in Saturday’s 4-0 Betfred Cup victory over Montrose.

Murray scored the second goal and was named Man of the Match for his eye-catching performance in attack while fellow 18-year-old Porteous, who made his competitive debut, looked solid in defence.

Another teenager, Oli Shaw, came off the bench against the part-timers and Lennon insists the academy graduates have given him food for thought.

The Hibs boss said: “Ryan Porteous has been outstanding in pre-season and looks very assured and we know Fraser Murray is a very good player, so I had no qualms in starting them.

“Fraser got his goal. He’s a young player, a work in progress. We’re delighted with the progress they have made, as with Oli Shaw.”

Murray’s low drive from inside the box in the 22nd minute arrived between two headers from his namesake Simon in the 12th and 53rd minutes.

Substitute Brian Graham rounded off the scoring with a penalty two minutes from full-time.

Montrose manager Stewart Petrie feels his players will have taken a lot from the experience of playing at Easter Road.

He said: “It’s a fantastic experience for the young guys coming here, even the senior ones as well.

“It’s great when you come and see the stadium here.

It’s just fabulous, it’s a great place to come and play football and the pitch is like a bowling green as well.”

Cammy Bell