‘APPALLING’ FAN INVASION AS HIBS END 114 YEARS OF HURT
HIBS boss Alan Stubbs insisted ugly scenes at Hampden would not ruin the win over Rangers – despite his players being unable to complete a lap of honour.
Hibs, who were losing 2-1 just 10 minutes, completed a stunning turnaround, courtesy of Anthony Stokes’ second goal and a stoppagetime header from David Gray (below), to lift the trophy for the first time in 114 years.
The full-time whistle sparked a mass pitch invasion that saw both sets of supporters clash, with goalposts also broken.
Stubbs admitted: “I wish all the fans had left the pitch so we could celebrate it properly. We don’t condone what has just happened, but that is 114 years of hurt.”
Asked if the skirmish, which delayed the presentation of the trophy and medals, would take the gloss of the Edinburgh club’s victory, he added: “It certainly won’t. Whatever comes our way we will take it on the chin.” After on-loan Celtic striker Stokes fired Hibs into a third-minute lead, Rangers turned the match around with Kenny Miller’s header and a stunning 25-yard effort from Andy Halliday. Miller also rattled the woodwork, but Stokes netted his second in the 80th minute before Gray nodded in at the death.
That ensured Hibs ended with a trophy after losing the League Cup final and missing out on promotion.
Chief executive Stewart Regan said the SFA was “appalled by the scenes of disorder and the contemptible behaviour” and that a full investigation, carried out with Police Scotland, would begin.