Horgan strikes late to see off battling County
Neil Lennon sat and completed his domestic suspension from a seat in the stand as a much-changed Hibs line-up made heavy weather of setting up a Betfred Cup quarter-final against Aberdeeen.
At times the Hibs manager was hanging over the railings of the directors’ box as he exhorted his players towards greater effort. They responded, eventually. Daryl Horgan’s winner in time added on meant it was a long journey back to the Highlands for the visiting fans, whose side did not deserve to fall in such a heart-breaking fashion.
County were twice ahead through Michael Gardyne and Josh Mullin’s penalty. Their performance certainly warranted another 30 minutes in which to try and take the lead again – and keep it.
Horgan’s goal could not have been better timed as far as Hibs were concerned. It left County with next to no time to source an equaliser. Although there were six changes from their last outing, several in Hibs’ side could have done without extra time after their European adventures.
While this performance can’t be submitted as evidence that the free-flowing Hibs of last season have returned, it was a case of job done. The left-sided midfielder Horgan showed his capabilities. He contributed an assist for Hibs’ first equaliser as well as claiming the vital winner.
Stevie Mallan, meanwhile, struck his fourth goal in four games since arriving from Barnsley to set up a winnable tie at home to Aberdeen. Mallan was not signed to replace John Mcginn but his arrival was designed to help ease some of the anguish at the loss of such a popular midfielder.
Mallan could have achieved little more in these opening weeks as a Hibs player. Indeed, this was further proof that Lennon has conducted business wisely in the summer. Horgan and Mallan helped bail out their more established team-mates, including Efe Ambrose. The defender conceded a second-half penalty after dithering in the box before clipping Declan Mcmanus. Lennon later told reporters the defender had to snap out of such lethargy.
With a string of European midweek matches proving more enticing for the Hibs support in recent weeks, it was a shame this tie failed to capture the imagination of an Edinburgh public presented with so many options for their Sunday afternoon’s entertainment at this time of year.
Some attendees might have wondered if they had booked
to see a one-man show by mistake.
At times if felt like Martin Boyle v the rest. Certainly this was true in the first half, before the winger mysteriously faded. He wasn’t alone among the home ranks.
Boyle has his dander up at the moment and ought to have killed off County’s threat. He might have had a hat-trick by midway through the first half. Finishing, though, remains an issue with someone touted by his manager for a Scotland call-up. He was, in truth, foiled rather than at fault. Fortunately for the visitors, Scott Fox, the County goalkeeper, was on form, diving this way and that to repel Boyle. County were hanging in there after taking a ninth-minute lead through Michael Gardyne.
It was a strange goal. County were at first enraged that referee Kevin Clancy did not play advantage after Mullin was impeded on the right flank. But their displeasure was eased when Sean Kelly swung in a free-kick that was cleared by Ambrose only as far as Gardyne. The midfielder struck it back towards goal first time but it seemed to lack the power to cause problems.
However, the shot’s threat was increased by a deflection and then Ambrose’s injudicious decision not to intervene. He seemed to lift a leg and let the ball run past him into the corner, as if expecting Ross Laidlaw to collect. The goalkeeper, however, was unsighted and could only grapple thin air after the ball trundled by him. It did not take Hibs long to get back on level terms. Just five minutes later, Horgan, who was making his first start since arriving from Preston North End, lifted in an inviting cross from the left and David Gray simply had to make sure he connected well with his forehead, something he did in typically accomplished fashion.
It was ultra competitive as well as entertaining. Marcus Fraser celebrated a block like he had scored a goal and then Callum Morris was booked for a heavy challenge on the busy Laidlaw on the stroke of half-time. The Hibs goalkeeper showed no lasting ill effects when tipping Iain Vigurs’ free-kick over shortly after
half-time as County upped the ante, with former Hearts midfielder Don Cowie augmenting the midfield after replacing the injured Lindsay.
Ambrose put his side under pressure just after the hour mark when clattering Mcmanus after the striker came in behind his shoulder as the defender dallied with the ball. Mullin struck the penalty confidently past Laidlaw.
Two well-hit strikes rescued Hibs, Mallan scoring from the edge of the box with an effort that moved in the air to leave Fox flummoxed with 21 minutes left. County continued to press and perhaps this contributed to their downfall. Hibs broke away after a corner and Boyle fed Horgan, whose 90th-minute finish, from 20 yards, was as well-struck as it was well-timed.