Ross hails strike force as Hibs reach last eight
Hibernian head coach Jack Ross savoured the contribution of his in-form strike force after a 4-0 Scottish Cup win at Stranraer.
Christian Doidge and Kevin Nisbet were on target before Martin Boyle struck twice, including from the penalty spot.
The trio have now scored their team's last 11 goals between them and 14 of the last 15. Their form is sure to give Hibs confidence ahead of next weekend's quarterfinal against Motherwell at Easter Road.
Ross said :" they have been like that all season. When you look at the amount of goals the three of them have contributed, they are all in double figures, which is terrific. You could argue there's a case for looking for goals from other areas of the pitch. But if you have three forward players that are producing that, there's not many teams across the country that have got that. They are all on good form at this stage of the season which is great."
Boyle, in particular, is in a purple patch with nine goals in 11 matches. "I think he's had a brilliant season," Ross said. "The expectations on him are so high that whenever he comes off it a little bit ....
"But, if you look a this goals and assists across the season, he will be up there with any players in the country.”
For the eighth time in ten seasons, Hibernian will compete in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
In fact, for the 12th time in 14 consecutive domestic cup competitions, Hibs are involved in the last eight. More often that not, they advance to the semis. This club is making a good habit of being at the business end of these tournaments.
European football, via this competition or the Premiership, is almost done. A point against Livingston on Wednesday will wrap up at least a Conference League berth in the league, but the Europa League isn’t out of the equation either. Claiming the Scottish Cup would bring a playoff round reward as well as silverware.
Winners five years ago with that 3-2 triumph over Rangers, their progress in this year’s edition was sealed by an emphatic 4-0 win over League Two outfit Stranraer at Stair Park. The margin of victory ought to have been greater considering the number of chances they created against a fatigued part-time team, but that matters little. Hibs will host Motherwell next weekend for another shot at Hampden.
Hibs’ forward line was far too strong for Stranraer, who will now focus on making the promotion play-offs in their own division. Lined up in a 4-42, strikers Kevin Nisbet and Christian Doidge were a constant handful for the hosts’ backline, but the star man was Martin Boyle. Posted wide right, he destroyed Stranraer with his pace, movement and deliveries.
Boyle scored twice – one a penalty – while Doidge and Nisbet were also on the mark. Each of the aforementioned players have now taken their goal tally into double figures, with Nisbet leading the way on 16. There will be more to come.
Hibs put out a strong team to avoid any prospect of an upset. Matt Macey was given the nod ahead of Ofir Marciano in goal and he played well, while Kyle Magennis was selected in the starting XI for the first time since December 23 and was one of Hibs’ better midfielders until he understandably tired in the second half.
Manager Jack Ross left out Alex Gogic, clearly wanting more ballplayers in the middle. Joe Newell and Jackson Irvine provided that, while Josh Doig was told to bomb forward at will from left-back.
The first indication of Doig’s overlapping tactics came as early as the fourth minute. Magennis found the teenager down the left-flank and his fizzed cross just evaded Nisbet for a tap-in.
While Stranraer were competing well in the centre of the pitch, Hibs were finding a lot of joy out wide. Magennis was the next to bomb down the wing, but some poor control let himself down in a promising position.
Boyle was the main threat, skipping past Sean Burns with ease. His cross was perfect, right into Nisbet’s stride, the Scotland striker sclaffed his effort wide.
The Australian, though, was the next to waste a presentable chance. His fellow Socceroo Irvine slipped him in with a cute pass but rather than drive in on goal, Boyle misread the situation and turned into trouble, with his shot blocked by Stranraer defender Scott Robertson.
Hibs were now turning the screw. On 37 minutes, Boyle cushioned the ball into’s Paul Mcginn’s path. The full-back’s shot was vicious, forcing Greg Fleming to shovel the ball over the bar. Boyle swung the subsequent corner in and, after Ryan Porteous challenged for it, the ball landed in Doidge’s path and he swivelled and powered a shot into the net.
The visitors clearly wanted a second before the break. Newell swung in a delicious free-kick that Porteous met with a well-directed header, only for Fleming to plunge to his right and parry it away. Then Nisbet spun away from Ayrton Sonkur and hit a dipping effort that narrowly missed the target. The second half continued in the same vein. Boyle raced clear of the floundering Stranraer defence on 49 minutes and clipped the ball into Doidge, whose header across goal was just too high.
Stranraer were on the ropes. Another goal would floor them. Magennis steamed in to meet Mcginn’s cutback two minutes later, but Fleming kicked his goalbound effort away.
The hosts earned a brief moment respite when Andy Stirling broke free, but Mcginn hauled him down and was booked. From the free-kick, Jamie Hamill’s drilled effort struck the Hibs wall and looped a fraction wide of goal with Macey struggling to cover it. It was a warning to Hibs, who had to rely on their former play
er, Daryl Duffy, to block a Thomas Orr shot that was destined for the net. Stranraer suddenly had their tails up and were bearing their teeth.
That reinforced the belief that Hibs required a second goal to put this tie to bed and it came on 64 minutes. Nisbet’s free-kick from range would have been dealt with by Fleming had it not struck the Stranraer wall, changed direction and trajectory and looped into the net. It was the killer blow.
Hibs did not let up though, and bagged a third on 71 minutes. All three forwards were involved. Doidge’s cross was headed on the post by Nisbet, but Boyle was on hand to thrash the loose ball past Fleming.
Hibs made it 4-0 on 84 minutes when, after Doidge’s downward header bounced off the bar, Porteous was felled by Robertson in the box and Boyle slammed the penalty home.
Stranraer: Fleming, Robertson, Burns, Sonkur, Mcmanus, Hilton, Gallagher (Hamill 51), Stirling, Millar, Orr (Yates 68), Duffy (Paton 69)
Hibs: Macey, Mcginn, Porteous, Hanlon, Doig (Stevenson 72), Newell (Hallberg 74), Irvine, Magennis (Wright 68), Boyle, Doidge, Nisbet
Referee: David Munro