Another season, another cup embarrassment

staff reporter

Hibernian suffered further woe in their first cup tie since that fateful day at Hampden in May as Queen of the South – managed by Allan Johnston, the former Hearts winger – sent them out of the Scottish Communities League Cup.

Nicky Clark, son of former Tynecastle favourite and current Queens assistant Sandy, sent the Dumfries side on their way to a deserved second-round victory with a close-range finish after just 12 minutes. Substitute Gavin Reilly added a second with a diving header in the 42nd minute and the home side continued to look the more enterprising team.

Pat Fenlon, the manager of Hibs, rested several players, including captain James McPake, after consecutive Clydesdale Bank Premier League wins, but the gamble backfired against the Irn-Bru second division side, who have now won six and drawn one of their opening seven games.

"I'm disgusted by that," said Fenlon."We just didn't treat it properly. If you don't apply yourselves properly you will get turned over. I told them that yesterday and I told them that today."

The closest Hibs came was in the opening few minutes when a Jorge Claros shot deflected to the feet of Leigh Griffiths inside the six-yard box. Griffiths looked offside but there was no flag and he rattled off the bar.

Queens, though, were ahead moments later. Derek Lyle played the ball inside the recalled Pa Kujabi to allow Danny Carmichael to send in a low cross. Clark got in front of Sean O'Hanlon to slot the ball inside near post from six yards. A different cup tie, but the same old Hibs.

Fenlon's side did rally, with Shefki Kuqi shooting straight at Lee Robinson from 25 yards before Clark missed a great chance. Dan Orsi flicked the ball inside Claros to Clark, whose first touch took him away from Paul Hanlon, but the striker shot just wide.

Griffiths had an equally good chance after Claros, then Booth, cut their way through the home side. Booth's pass played Griffiths in down the left channel but he was high and wide of the near post.

Reilly replaced Lyle midway through the half but there was little disruption to the home side's dominant display and Hibs were soon made to pay as they were again exposed down their left. It was Chris Mitchell who made the decisive pass this time, but it was a familiar route as the ball again went inside Kujabi to Carmichael. The winger sent over a cross that invited a diving header and Reilly guided in.

Booth and Kujabi were withdrawn at half-time and the changes helped Hibs lift it. Robinson punched a Griffiths free-kick wide as the visitors mounted a series of attacks, but the closest they came was a David Wotherspoon header against the crossbar.

Taken from the Herald