Hibernian 0 Malmo 7: Embarrassingly simple defeat leaves Fenlon's humiliatingly meek side in the mire

HIBERNIAN fans probably thought it could not get any worse than losing 5-1 to their biggest rivals in a Scottish Cup final.

This, their worst European result and the worst aggregate loss by a Scottish club, must rank close.

Pre-match talk about Pat Fenlon's side overturning a two-goal deficit to advance into the third qualifying round of the Europa League backed by a raucous and intimidating home support was more wishful thinking than genuinely expected, but surely few had foreseen them unravelling quite as dramatically as this. Malmo scored after 21 minutes then just did not stop. By the end they had claimed seven on the night, a 9-0 aggregate humiliation from which it may take Hibs some time to recover. Fenlon's assertion beforehand that he needed to add two or three bodies to his squad may need reassessing this morning as he picks over the carcass of a home humiliation on a scale rarely seen at this level.

Hibs had to score first to have any chance of pulling off a minor miracle and, after early possession failed to deliver as much as a single notable chance, Malmo made them pay in the cruellest fashion. The Swedes, having been happy to contain their hosts for the first 20 minutes or so, found an extra gear and the goals began raining in as ferociously as the storms that had lashed the country earlier in the day.

By half-time it was 4-0, with Malmo having also hit a post. As the home fans stared open-mouthed in despair, the idea emerged that Fenlon might stumble on to the pitch waving a white flag to spare his players from further humiliation. The second half, played in front a noticeably smaller crowd, brought a further three goals, the final aggregate score a humbling 9-0. It surpassed Hibs' previous worst ever result, a 6-0 loss to AS Roma, as well as Rangers' 12-4 aggregate defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt that both, coincidentally, took place in 1960.

It may be some time before anyone utters the phrase 'Fortress Easter Road' with anything resembling a straight face. Hibs again asked left-sided midfielder Lewis Stevenson to fill in at right-back with Tim Clancy still injured and Malmo were not slow to exploit his obvious discomfort in an unfamiliar role. Almost everything positive came down the Swedes' left flank as they zipped the ball about with all the confidence of a team sitting second in their domestic table midway through the season.

The away goal that killed the tie stone dead was secured soon enough but that was not enough to sate the Swedes, who continued to pour forward with increasing regularity and ease. Hibs' problems deepened when captain James McPake had to hobble off injured – the switch at least allowed Stevenson to return to a more comfortable left-sided berth – but Malmo showed no mercy. The visiting scout from Swansea City, who will face the Swedes in the third round, will have departed with a furrowed brow and a long list of points for manager Michael Laudrup to consider.

There was a simplicity about each of the goals, scored by seven different players. Magnus Eriksson started the rout, sweeping home after good work by Simon Thern and the impressive South African, Tokelo Rantie. Emil Forsberg scored the second after working a neat 1-2 with Thern, and by that point it was simply a question of how many. Markus Hasti added a third on the half-hour after being fed by Jiloan Hamad, while a long-range shot from Milko Albornoz brought up the fourth three minutes before half-time. That sparked a mass evacuation at the break and a brief 15-minute respite for Hibs as they staggered up the tunnel, reeling from the battering Malmo had relentlessly dished out.

The second half was not quite as frenetic but Hibs still failed to provide anything resembling a meaningful chance and Malmo showing no intention of letting up and settling for their haul. It took a further 17 minutes for the Swedes to extend their lead, Rantie happy to pounce on the rebound after Ben Williams had failed to gather Hamad's hopeful bash at goal. There was further embarrassment for the goalkeeper four minutes later when Hamad finally scored, his hopeful free kick squirming through his grasp. Substitute Simon Kroon then got the seventh with 18 minutes remaining, the Swedes then deciding that was enough for the night.

It was rough on a Hibs support who had turned out in vast numbers – 16,018 was the attendance – to back their team and also pay tribute to club legend Lawrie Reilly who died earlier in the week. Seven-nil used to be the result that Hibs fans taunted their Hearts counterparts about, a reference to their biggest ever derby win. The scoreline has taken on fresh significance now.

Taken from the Herald