BIBS......2 KILLIE...0
Winner is child’s play for dad-to-be Gogic
Alex Gogic rattled in a sensational clincher for Hibs – then dedicated it to his baby girl due next month.
Group celebrations might be off the menu after the latest government advice.
But that was no problem to the Cypriot as he brought out the Bebeto rocking baby routine after securing a vital three points for Hibs.
Gogic’s 20-yard thunderbolt, after an Alan Power own goal had broken the deadlock, gave Hibs a much-needed lift ahead of Saturday’s Betfred Cup semifinal with St Johnstone.
It also moved Jack Ross’ side above Aberdeen into third.
Gogic said: “It’s my first goal I’ve scored with my foot!
“It’s one to remember for sure. “The boys always say to me, ‘Don’t shoot!’
“My missus is pregnant and we’re expecting a baby soon. So that was for her.
“It’s a big week for us with the semi- final. We’ve been there before and we want to take the next step this time and get to the final.
“Then the baby will be here. I’ve got it all planned out! I just hope it all goes like that!”
Delighted boss Ross paid tribute to Gogic as he challenged his players to keep momentum building for Saturday’s trip to Hampden.
Ross said: “I would like to say that I’ve seen him do that in training regularly but I don’t!
“He quite often gets chased out of the finishing drills when he tries to get involved!
“It’s a heck of a finish, to be fair, and I thought it capped an excellent performance.
“It’s nice to have a clear week in preparation for the semi-final. We’ve had a taste of a semi-final this year and it was a bitter taste of not winning it.
“There’s a real determination among the players to take that next step.”
New signing Jackson Irvine was thrown straight in for Hibs.
He hadn’t played since March but the man from Melbourne might have felt right at home with the pitch looking like half of nearby Portobello Beach had been dumped on it.
Paul McGinn had been the loudest critic of the sticky park over the festive period.
The full-back certainly looked happier on this surface as he danced through two tackles on the edge of the box before his first-minute shot tested Killie keeper Danny Rogers.
But that was it for goalmouth action in the first 45.
Irvine was giving as good as he got in the midfield tussle with Power while supporting lone striker Kevin Nisbet.
Josh Doig was taking the advanced ful l- back role to extremes on the left but Hibs were struggling for a final product.
The game was crying out for a moment of magic but the first glimpse of something special came when
Rogers brilliantly clawed out a Gogic header just after the break. But he was helpless in the 55th minute as Hibs took the lead. Doig did brilliantly as he burst to the byeline and fizzed in a dangerous low cross.
Power’s desperate attempt to snuff out the danger only succeeded in diverting the ball into his own net.
Killie threw on Chris Burke and Nicke Kabamba and the big striker was a post’s width away from levelling when he latched onto a Power through ball and battered in a shot.
Martin Boyle then drew a good save from Rogers before Gogic made sure of the points with 10 minutes when he cracked home Christian Doidge’s knock down.
It was his first goal for Hibs and it’s pretty safe to say he’ll score few better.