Hibs go badly off the Boyle
Cup hero sees red as County win
FROM Hampden heaven to hell in the Highlands, Hibs’ mood shift was sharp and severe last night. A bizarre and fortuitous Blair Spittal winner condemned the visitors to their fifth straight league defeat as the fireworks they produced against Rangers fizzled out in the Dingwall drizzle.
And their miserable evening was complete when Christian Doidge was sent off late in the game before Saturday’s hat-trick hero Martin Boyle was also red carded after the final whistle for dissent.
What a night, though, for County whose second win of the campaign took the Premiership’s bottom side to within a point of Dundee.
Hibs had travelled north without suspended centre-half Ryan Porteous, the only absentee after Sunday’s monumental Premier Sports Cup semi-final victory.
County also made a single change from their last outing — the 4-2 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox — with Jordan White replacing Jack Burroughs in the starting line-up.
There was much heat and steam, and little of worth, from both sides in the opening 12 minutes before Boyle burst away on the right.
The Australia international’s pace took him surging away from Connor Randall and his cross was perfectly hung up in the air for Kevin Nisbet, only for his downward header to go straight into the arms of keeper Ash Maynard-Brewer.
A couple of minutes later, Chris Cadden’s similarly dangerous delivery found Nisbet powering another header wide of the post.
Those two chances were warning enough for the hosts, but they reacted well. Cadden was guilty of a handball 30 yards out on the left and Joseph Hungbo whipped in a terrific free-kick. Meeting it eight yards out, White really should have scored with his head but glanced just wide of the left-hand upright.
Hibs had their best move of the first half when the ball was zipped about at pace to slice County open. Boyle found Cadden on the right, and his low-swept pass was struck first time by Paul Hanlon against the outside of the post from 14 yards.
The second half opened with County taking the early initiative — and having a penalty claim waved away. Manager Malky Mackay was certainly convinced an award was due as Harry Paton’s forward ball was flicked into the box by White, before Hungbo went down after Josh Doig’s bump from behind.
Boyle also found space for a low drive from the edge of the box which Maynard-Brewer smothered.
Hibs also had to work hard defensively at times against their Highland opponents, with wide men Hungbo and Regan CharlesCook always looking lively.
Towards the hour mark, Boyle’s explosive pace again caused trouble for the hosts, before Josh Campbell’s lay-off found Nisbet drilling a low shot. Again, though, it was straight at Maynard-Brewer.
Doidge, fit again for the first time since August, added to his cameo against Rangers as a 67th-minute replacement for Nisbet here.
It was County who threatened next though, with Hungbo’s attempt from the right of the box pushed for a corner beyond the far post by the stretching Matt Macey.
County have rued their luck at times this season, but the bizarre 72nd-minute breakthrough had a healthy dose of the stuff.
Substitute Spittal’s first touch was a low cross from the left that went through a cluster of legs and deceived keeper Macey before nestling in the far corner of the net.
Moments later, County’s Hungbo intercepted a miscued pass from the jittery Macey and should have tucked away a second, but curled the attempt high over the bar.
Hibs were in serious trouble with six minutes left after substitute Doidge took a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on County’s David Cancola.
It was tense towards the end for the home side but victory was huge for County and manager Mackay.
Jack Ross’s men, by contrast, would see a frustrated Boyle red-carded after the final whistle before Hibs headed home to lick their considerable wounds.