Simon just can’t stop his scoring
CHOW MAKES IT COUNT IN PENALTY SHOOT-OUT
ROSS COUNTY joined Hibs in the next round after they won a penalty shootout at Arbroath and sealed second place in Group D.
David Gold missed League One Arbroath’s last spot-kick and Tim Chow stepped up to convert for the Premiership Staggies.
The match had finished goalless, and County manager Jim McIntyre paid tribute to Gayfield goalkeeper David Hutton: ‘We had some glorious chances to win it but we found a goalkeeper in very good form.’
IT IS fair to say that Simon Murray’s arrival at Hibernian was greeted with plenty of indifference amongst a support keen for a ‘big-name’ recruit to spearhead their return to the Premiership. However, seven goals in just four competitive outings will surely have many fans changing their minds.
The summer signing from Dundee United followed up his midweek hat-trick against Arbroath with a second-half double against Alloa to ensure the Easter Road outfit progressed to the knock-out stages of the Betfred Cup as Group D winners thanks to Ross County’s failure to beat Arbroath.
If the 25-year-old, whose dad Gary played for the capital club in the 1980s, felt the need to win over any doubters he must have done just that.
A chance to become the first Hibs player to net consecutive trebles since Joe McBride in the late 1960s may have passed him with a wayward late shot, but he has not failed to make an impact ahead of Hibs’ return to the top-flight against Partick Thistle next Saturday.
However, if Murray and younger namesake Fraser, who got the ball rolling with Hibs’ 15th-minute opener against League One Alloa, grabbed the attention with the goals, manager Neil Lennon insisted special praise should be reserved for Martin Boyle, who had a hand in all three.
‘Simon’s scoring goals,’ he said. ‘There’s still a lot of work in Simon in terms of his all-round play. But he’s scoring and the second is a great goal.
‘He got another tap-in, but I think he owes a lot to Boyle, who is playing fantastically well and has taken his game onto another level.
‘I’m very pleased. It was important to win the game and we’ve won it in convincing fashion. It’s another game under the players’ belts, we’re scoring goals and keeping clean sheets.
‘We’ve got players who can make a difference in the final third and we’re showing that at the minute.’
Boyle was involved in the opener, finding space before picking out Simon Murray’s dart into the insideright channel. The striker then found Fraser Murray arriving into the penalty area and the 18-year-old hammered the ball into the net.
The Wasps came within a whisker of an instant rejoinder when Alan Cook’s low drive flashed inches beyond the far post with the aid of a deflection off Hibs skipper Darren McGregor.
Fraser Murray then almost snatched a second five minutes from the break. John McGinn threaded a ball into the attacking midfielder’s feet but Parry diverted his chipped attempt from the roof of his net.
The younger Murray then sparked a controversial second for Hibs 18 minutes after the restart. Holding off Jon Robertson inside his own half, he then raced forward before feeding Boyle on his outside. The winger sped beyond the retreating Alloa defenders and Simon Murray bundled in his low cross from close range. Referee Willie Collum ignored appeals he had used a hand in the process.
Hibs’ third was more clear-cut. Boyle’s superb cross from the left was perfect for Murray and he bulleted a header in off the post.
It was a third Betfred Cup loss for Alloa, but boss Jim Goodwin was happy with an improved display. He said: ‘Hibs are a big club and there’s big expectations for them, and I felt my boys did well to stick with them as well as they could.’