Sam’s the man to steer Hibs on road to recovery
HE has a famous’ namesake, but Sam Stanton made Easter Road his own as Hibs enjoyed their first win in six games.
There are few remembered more fondly in Leith than Pat Stanton, and 19-year-old Sam’s display in the victory against Ross County produced a real sense of deja vu.
Wearing the green shirt with the same pride as Pat, young Sam — there is no family connection — fired in a wonderful first League goal for the club but contributed much more to his side’s recovery win.
With the Cup defeat by Raith Rovers still raw in the memory, he supported new front player Danny Haynes and patrolled midfield with vision and authority.
Former Millwall and Charlton striker Haynes was willing and brave enough to hold the ball up against physically powerful defenders.
And after shipping three goals to
Stanton patrolled midfield with vision and authority
Championship Rovers last week, this was a much more secure display, although Hibs still took chances in the second half.
The visitors were very flat in a first half when Hibs should have buried the game, but they reacted well after the break and nicked a goal through Richie Brittain.
Cameroon centre-back Yann Songo’o caught the eye for Derek Adams’ side, who were not at their best after just one defeat in their last six games.
But Terry Butcher’s men just about deserved to prevail after answering the manager’s call for a positive reaction to the Cup shock.
Hibs led spectacularly through Stanton when his 25 - yard free-kick was perfectly guided past keeper Mark Brown.
County responded after 20 minutes, when Brittain crossed from the right and Yoaan Arquin’s header bounced off the bar twice, before being hooked clear by Jordon Forster.
But the hungry home men went further ahead three minutes later, when Haynes’ low cross from the right gave Tom Taiwo time to take a touch before shooting low into the corner.
Nine minutes before the break, Arquin made his way into the box on the left and Paul Hanlon’s block six yards out kept the ball away from Ben Williams’ goal.
Six minutes later Arquin looked dangerous again when he blasted a shot in from 20 yards, and Williams was happy to block the ball with both hands.
Three minutes into the second half, Graham Carey attacked the Hibs box, but his 16-yard shot was always rising just over the bar.
Hibs thought they had a third when Alex Harris’ corner almost squirmed in at the post.
Then Stanton made a lung-bursting run two minutes from time, and it took the combined efforts of keeper Brown and Erik Cikos to keep him out.