Bedlam in Leith as bosses lose plot
NEIL LENNON had broken with convention prior to this encounter when he admitted that victory against Morton would essentially ensure lift-off for Hibs back to the top flight.
In the end, it was tempers that were raised to boiling point on a night that ended with four red cards being brandished amid ugly scenes in the dying seconds of the match.
Hibs boss Lennon and Morton counterpart Jim Duffy had to be pulled apart following an angry confrontation between the pair, before they were both sent to the stands by referee Nick Walsh.
It followed a mass shoving match between players and coaching staffs on the touchline after Morton substitute Kudus Oyenuga was sent off.
He had poleaxed Jordon Forster in front of both technical areas, before Hibs defender Darren McGregor was then given his marching orders for what appeared a retaliatory headbutt on Oyenuga.
Once the dust and red mist had settled, Duffy — back at the ground where he once made a theatrical entrance as Hibs’ new boss by helicopter — had ensured that his old team remain grounded in the Championship departure lounge. For now, at any rate.
Still ten points clear of secondplace Morton with eight games left after this stalemate, it would require a collapse of Devon Loch proportions for the Easter Road side not to be hosting Premiership football again next season.
The scenes at the end will make the headlines. But this was yet another spirited, impressive display by the visitors from Greenock. Hard-working, well organised, they are greater than the sum of their parts, marshalled by an impressive manager in Duffy.
There may be no love lost between them now but the Morton gaffer won’t be far behind Lennon in the running for Championship Manager of the Year.
His side are now a point clear of Falkirk, with a game in hand, and a further two ahead of Dundee United.
In Lennon’s attempt to steer his side over the title line, he made four changes from the side that secured a huge 2-1 win over Falkirk last Saturday. It was no surprise that international goalkeeper Ofir Marciano and midfielder John McGinn returned after their stints with Israel and Scotland respectively.
Neither was it a huge shock to see James Keatings restored to the starting line-up after his stoppage-time screamer secured that victory over the Bairns.
Fit-again defender Paul Hanlon, meanwhile, made his first start since the 3-0 home win over Dundee United on January 6.
Duffy made two changes from the side that surrendered their long unbeaten run at home with a 1-0 defeat by Dunfermline.
Captain Lee Kilday failed a pre-match fitness test, so in came Ricky Lamie, while Lawrence Shankland’s place was taken by Michael Tidser.
It took McGinn less than a minute of being back in a green jersey to remind the Hibs fans of his immense worth to this team.
The midfielder disturbed the Scotland team hotel at Mar Hall last Saturday with his screams of joy as he watched coverage of Keatings scoring his winner against Falkirk.
McGinn thought he had grabbed a long-range beauty of his own after 41 seconds but the ball smacked back off the right-hand post, with Morton keeper Derek Gaston looking relieved.
McGinn then chipped the ball through for Jason Cummings but the alert Gaston rushed smartly off his line to block for a corner.
From the resultant set-piece, Gaston somehow stopped McGregor’s close-range header from crossing the line.
When the ball was returned into the box, Grant Holt headed narrowly wide.
Up at the other end, Thomas O’Ware caused a moment of panic when he nodded a Ross Forbes header just over the bar.
Forbes then came close with a long-range effort which went narrowly wide.
After the break, Cummings tried his luck from distance but his shot trundled harmlessly into Gaston’s arms.
His next effort was even poorer as he scooped a 20-yard free-kick wildly over the bar.
There was to be a huge let-off for Morton goalie Gaston when he appeared to pick up the ball outside the box, only for Walsh to wave play on.
Late on, Cummings had the chance to be the hero but the out-of-sorts striker shot tamely at Gaston.
Then came the incredible scenes at the end, with Lennon and Duffy, as well as Oyenuga and McGregor, all now set to face further disciplinary action from the SFA. HIBERNIAN (4-4-2): Marciano; Ambrose, McGregor, Hanlon (Forster 87), Stevenson; Boyle, McGinn, Bartley, Keatings; Cummings (McGeouch 87), Holt (Graham 67). Subs not used: Laidlaw, McLean, Fyvie, Martin. Booked: Bartley, Graham. Sent off: McGregor. MORTON (4-4-2): Gaston; Murdoch, O’Ware, Lamie, Russell; Forbes (Oyenuga 84), Doyle, Lindsay, Tidser; Nesbitt, Oliver (Shankland 89). Subs not used: Scullion, Donnelly, Tiffoney, Strapp, McGowan. Booked: Lamie, Doyle, Lindsay. Sent off: Oyenuga. Referee: Nick Walsh. Attendance: 15,149. Man of the Match: Derek Gaston.