HIBS DOIDGE SHOCK EXIT
Striker nets to help sink Wasps
HIBERNIAN booked the return to Hampden ordered by Jack Ross to offset the pain of October’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Hearts.
But it required an almighty s econd- half t r ansformation orchestrated by i nfluential substitute Stevie Mallan for the Easter Road side to book their place i n the l ast four of the Betfred Cup.
A first-half own goal by Paul Hanlon saw Championship Alloa threatening to serve up the latest upset in a season of seismic shocks.
But, five years to the day since Ross began his managerial career as Wasps boss, his team struck back through Christian Doidge and a Nicky Jamieson own goal.
There was a blow before kick- off for the visitors when on-form striker Kevin Nisbet was ruled out with a minor muscle injury.
But Ross hopes to have him back f or Saturday’s Premiership visit to Easter Road of Dundee United.
Once under way, there was an early scare for Alloa when Drey Wright tumbled i n the box under the close attention of Al a n Trouten. But referee David Munro denied the penalty claims and waved play on.
Hibs finally tested Neil Parry in the Alloa goal when Jamie Gullan was picked out by a terrific pass from Ryan Porteous.
The youngster cut inside and shot from the edge of the box but Parry tipped it over the bar.
Porteous then bisected the Alloa defence with another exquisite long through ball. This time, Gullan rounded Parry and stayed on his feet when he could have gone down with there being clear contact from the Alloa keeper.
Martin Boyle picked up the loose ball but his chipped effort drifted over the bar.
Gullan had shown admirable honesty in not going down in the box but it would have been interesting to hear his manager and team-mates’ views on the matter at the break after Alloa took a shock lead.
After a f i ne r un, Stefan Scougall’s cross from the wing struck Porteous to fall into the path of Kevin Cawley. The midfielder’s shot was saved by Ofir Marciano but the ball rebounded off Hibs captain Hanlon and bounced over the line for an own goal.
As the A-Team theme music blared, could Alloa add Hibs to the scalp they recently took of Edinburgh rivals Hearts in the Betfred Cup?
The answer was no, thanks to s ome decisive c hanges in personnel from Ross who brought on Mallan and Kyle Magennis for Melker Hallberg and Wright.
Both players wasted little time in making an impact.
Mallan’s terrific corner from the right was met by Hanlon and the ball struck Liam Dick.
Doidge was alert and he stabbed the ball into the net via the underside of the crossbar from close range at the second attempt. Then Magennis fired a goalbound shot past Parry that required a block on the line from Jamieson.
Doidge then had three chances to put Hibs ahead. First he headed wide from a terrific cross by Boyle.
Then he scooped wildly over the bar after attacking play from Boyle and Magennis.
The Welshman thought he had scored but his header from a Lewis Stevenson cross flew wide.
It was all Hibs by now and a winning goal was coming as Alloa tired. When it arrived, Mallan was the architect again, turning in the box and sending the ball over for Doidge. His effort struck the head of the luckless Jamieson and found the net.
‘It was a difficult game, I knew it would be,’ said Ross. ‘It’s about progression and we’ve done that.’
On match-winner Doidge, Ross added: ‘The thing with Christian — and this is going to sound bizarre — is I think he scores most goals when he’s missing most opportunities because he gets in good areas.’