Dean Shiels was the hat-trick hero for Hibs as they eased into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup at Caley Thistle’s expense. The player – seemingly frozen out under previous manager John Collins – returned to the starting line-up for new manager Mixu Paatelainen and virtually guaranteed his Easter Road future as he handed the gaffer his best possible start.

It could all have been so different had Caley Thistle taken one of three chances they had in the first five minutes through Niculae, Bayne or Tokely. In the fifth minute a neat move between Hanlon, Zemmama and Shiels allowed the latter to drift wide of McGuire and Tokely before drilling a shot across Fraser and into the far corner from 12 yards out. This inspired Hibs and they played some neat football after this with Zemmama in particular coming close a couple of times. Caley Thistle had a chance in 18 minutes when Roy McBain found Niculae with a cross but his close range effort was saved by Ma-Kalambay. The rest of the half belonged to Hibs with both Benjelloun and Zemmama going close again.

 

Half Time: 1-0

 

Caley Thistle started the second half brightly and had chances through a Niculae long range effort and then through Bayne who was set free down the wing courtesy of a Niculae back-heel. Unfortunately, when he got inside the box, the final shot sailed well over the bar. In 53 minutes, the game was really over as a contest when Hibs got their second. Shiels nutmegged Munro on the edge of the box and shot low under Fraser. Morais almost made it three a short while later but he put it just past the post. Caley Thistle chances were few and far between and any that we had were saved easily by Ma-Kalambay who easily held onto a deflected Niculae effort in 73 minutes. The moral of this game seemed to be that anything we could do, Hibs could do better and straight after Niculae’s chance for ICT, Hibs had several of their own. Antoine-Curier crossed for Morais but he failed to make contact with the ball just yards from goal. A minute later, it was Antoine-Curier doing the missing himself as Zemmama crossed and he headed over with Fraser already beaten. The final blow for ICT came in the 83rd minute when Shiels was first to react to a Morais shot that had hit the post and scored to complete his hat-trick To add insult to injury, Caley Thistle’s “new” defender Phil McGuire – who has now signed a 2 ½ year deal – was red carded with three minutes to go after Filipe Morais squared up to him. Although McGuire didn’t appear to do anything, Mr Conroy decided to give both of them a yellow card and as each had been booked earlier, the yellows were quickly followed by reds.

 

Full Time: 3-0

 

Following ICT in the cup has given us many good days to remember but this was one we should try to forget... quickly.