Jonnyboy
08-05-2021, 07:36 PM
Given the outcome of the last two semi finals I felt some trepidation in the lead up to this one but as it turned out, my concerns were unfounded. Playing really well in large portions of the game, Hibs scored twice without reply to secure a place in the final.
Jack Ross made three changes to his starting eleven, bringing in Matt Macey, Melker Hallberg and Kevin Nisbet whilst Mickey Mellon went with the same eleven that had demolished Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the quarter final.
Early exchanges were fairly even, though Dundee United coped well with a couple of Hibs corners. An early Josh Doig effort was well wide of the target before Hallberg blasted in a fine effort that sailed past the keeper’s left hand post. With Doig playing high up the park, United repeatedly tried to send a man down their right but Hanlon and Porteous were wise to that and snuffed out any danger.
On ten minutes, Butcher went into a challenge with Boyle, catching the Hibs man with his studs leading. It looked worse than it was, but referee Bobby Madden correctly punished the United man with a yellow card. Joe Newell was next to try his luck, but the effort lacked any power whilst at the other end, Harkes got his head to a cross but the ball was slightly behind him and the effort sailed well over the bar.
Around the twenty five minute mark, Madden puzzled everyone by awarding a free kick against Christian Doidge. The Hibs man was on the ground and as he fell, he collided with the United goalkeeper who was actually behind him at the time. Moments later, Kevin Nisbet screwed a shot just wide of the far post. Within a minute he once again fired in a shot which beat Mehmet and found the far corner. It was a great strike and made possible by Irvine controlling the ball with his chest before rolling it into the path of Nisbet.
On the half hour, Newell took a sore one in a challenge with Shankland but managed to stay on following treatment. United were trying hard to create chances but struggling to break through a resolute defence who were ably assisted by Irvine and Hallberg. The latter had taken the place of the suspended Gogic and impressed with his energy and willingness to take the ball in tight situations. As half time loomed, United won a couple of corners but never troubled Macey who was happy to come out and collect the ball.
It was to be expected that the men from Dundee would come out strong in the second half and early in the proceedings, McNulty threatened to break free, but he was hauled back by Porteous who was yellow carded for the offense. Nicky Clark took the resultant free kick, but his attempt was both high and wide.
Realising his side was toiling to create anything, Mickey Mellon began to make substitutions and for a short while, United started to see more of the ball but the truth was that so far in the game, Macey had not faced one shot on goal and as the hour mark approached, Hibs doubled their lead. Boyle won the ball in midfield, passed to Nisbet who flicked his return past his marker. Boyle then released Doidge who took one touch before planting the ball in the bottom corner. I’ll admit here, I thought Christian was offside and replays confirmed that to be the case, making it quite astonishing that the assistant referee missed it. Moments later, Joe Newell felt his earlier injury prevented him from playing on and he was replaced by Kyle Magennis. Soon after, first Shankland and then McNulty failed to get shots on target as Hibs maintained control of the game.
In a rare lapse, Hibs allowed Smith to break free on the right and his long and looped cross picked out Robson at the far post, but the United man’s first time effort trickled past Macey’s far post. At the other end, Boyle shot past the post as Hibs tried to take advantage of United pressing forward by hitting them on the break. Soon after, Shankland got across his marker to guide a shot on target but Macey got down quickly to push the ball around the post. Ryan Porteous was looking like he might be suffering from a tightness in his thigh and was soon replaced by Darren McGregor who quickly got involved by towering above Shankland with a headed clearance. Seconds later, Boyle picked up a pass when out wide on the right and just inside his own half. Setting off for goal he burned past several challenges before being hacked down by Ryan Edwards right on the edge of the United box. Edwards was rightly booked before Nisbet stung the fingertips of Mehmet from the resultant free kick. It should be said that referee Madden was ultra quick with his whistle here as the challenge on Boyle saw the ball reach Doidge who would have made it 3-0.
The minutes were ticking down nicely, and Hibs looked in full control with Boyle racing free only to see his effort on goal deflected wide by Smith at the last second. On 84 minutes, Nisbet was withdrawn, and Jamie Murphy introduced with the new man setting up a chance for Doidge before himself hitting a cracking shot that Mehmet did really well to push round the post. Some five minutes were added but the truth is Hibs never looked in trouble as they simply managed that five minutes, allowing them to secure a place in the Scottish Cup Final.
The players
Macey – Completely untroubled throughout and I only really recall one significant save.
McGinn – Some feel he’s dipped in form recently and that may be so but today he was back to his best both defensively and offensively.
Porteous – I thought a couple of attempted fifty yard passes were odd decisions to make but overall, I thought Ryan had a decent game.
Hanlon – Paul had one moment when he misread a situation, but he wasn’t punished for it thankfully and he had a good 95 minutes.
Doig – For me, Josh was a bit sloppy in possession for the first 15 minutes or so, but he settled down and went on to play his part in the win.
Boyle – Facing two or more defenders in the first half curtailed his effectiveness somewhat but he had a stonking second half, capped by that waltz through the United defence that was so crudely halted.
Hallberg – In there to do the Gogic job I thought he was outstanding from start to finish. Accepted that his dead ball delivery could be better, but he covered every blade of grass today and more than compensated for the man he had replaced. With two or three in the frame I’ve plumped for him as my man of the match.
Newell – Quietly influential but once he got that first half injury he was always going to need to be replaced.
Irvine – I’ve been lukewarm about Jackson in recent weeks, but I thought he was fantastic today and was very much in my thoughts for man f the match.
Nisbet – His game awareness just grows and grows. A very clever and talented footballer who doesn’t always get the credit he deserves for his work off the ball. There were a couple of instinctive touches today that took my breath away. Another just beaten to my man of the match award.
Doidge – The usual hard working display from Christian but I have to praise that finish for the second goal. Sweetly struck and not a sclaff in sight.
Magennis – Played wide left again and unable to get involved enough but he didn’t do anything wrong and will have benefitted from the minutes.
McGregor – Big Daz just did what big Daz does – never gave an opponent a sniff.
Murphy – Jamie wasn’t on for long, but I felt he made a positive impact. If he can stay fit, he’ll be a valuable asset for our three remaining games this season.
Jack Ross – The look of absolute delight on his face when he went on at the end to congratulate his players was a joy to behold.
Referee – I actually like Madden as a referee because he lets the game flow but on the one occasion today that he didn’t he denied Hibs a third goal.
Jack Ross made three changes to his starting eleven, bringing in Matt Macey, Melker Hallberg and Kevin Nisbet whilst Mickey Mellon went with the same eleven that had demolished Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the quarter final.
Early exchanges were fairly even, though Dundee United coped well with a couple of Hibs corners. An early Josh Doig effort was well wide of the target before Hallberg blasted in a fine effort that sailed past the keeper’s left hand post. With Doig playing high up the park, United repeatedly tried to send a man down their right but Hanlon and Porteous were wise to that and snuffed out any danger.
On ten minutes, Butcher went into a challenge with Boyle, catching the Hibs man with his studs leading. It looked worse than it was, but referee Bobby Madden correctly punished the United man with a yellow card. Joe Newell was next to try his luck, but the effort lacked any power whilst at the other end, Harkes got his head to a cross but the ball was slightly behind him and the effort sailed well over the bar.
Around the twenty five minute mark, Madden puzzled everyone by awarding a free kick against Christian Doidge. The Hibs man was on the ground and as he fell, he collided with the United goalkeeper who was actually behind him at the time. Moments later, Kevin Nisbet screwed a shot just wide of the far post. Within a minute he once again fired in a shot which beat Mehmet and found the far corner. It was a great strike and made possible by Irvine controlling the ball with his chest before rolling it into the path of Nisbet.
On the half hour, Newell took a sore one in a challenge with Shankland but managed to stay on following treatment. United were trying hard to create chances but struggling to break through a resolute defence who were ably assisted by Irvine and Hallberg. The latter had taken the place of the suspended Gogic and impressed with his energy and willingness to take the ball in tight situations. As half time loomed, United won a couple of corners but never troubled Macey who was happy to come out and collect the ball.
It was to be expected that the men from Dundee would come out strong in the second half and early in the proceedings, McNulty threatened to break free, but he was hauled back by Porteous who was yellow carded for the offense. Nicky Clark took the resultant free kick, but his attempt was both high and wide.
Realising his side was toiling to create anything, Mickey Mellon began to make substitutions and for a short while, United started to see more of the ball but the truth was that so far in the game, Macey had not faced one shot on goal and as the hour mark approached, Hibs doubled their lead. Boyle won the ball in midfield, passed to Nisbet who flicked his return past his marker. Boyle then released Doidge who took one touch before planting the ball in the bottom corner. I’ll admit here, I thought Christian was offside and replays confirmed that to be the case, making it quite astonishing that the assistant referee missed it. Moments later, Joe Newell felt his earlier injury prevented him from playing on and he was replaced by Kyle Magennis. Soon after, first Shankland and then McNulty failed to get shots on target as Hibs maintained control of the game.
In a rare lapse, Hibs allowed Smith to break free on the right and his long and looped cross picked out Robson at the far post, but the United man’s first time effort trickled past Macey’s far post. At the other end, Boyle shot past the post as Hibs tried to take advantage of United pressing forward by hitting them on the break. Soon after, Shankland got across his marker to guide a shot on target but Macey got down quickly to push the ball around the post. Ryan Porteous was looking like he might be suffering from a tightness in his thigh and was soon replaced by Darren McGregor who quickly got involved by towering above Shankland with a headed clearance. Seconds later, Boyle picked up a pass when out wide on the right and just inside his own half. Setting off for goal he burned past several challenges before being hacked down by Ryan Edwards right on the edge of the United box. Edwards was rightly booked before Nisbet stung the fingertips of Mehmet from the resultant free kick. It should be said that referee Madden was ultra quick with his whistle here as the challenge on Boyle saw the ball reach Doidge who would have made it 3-0.
The minutes were ticking down nicely, and Hibs looked in full control with Boyle racing free only to see his effort on goal deflected wide by Smith at the last second. On 84 minutes, Nisbet was withdrawn, and Jamie Murphy introduced with the new man setting up a chance for Doidge before himself hitting a cracking shot that Mehmet did really well to push round the post. Some five minutes were added but the truth is Hibs never looked in trouble as they simply managed that five minutes, allowing them to secure a place in the Scottish Cup Final.
The players
Macey – Completely untroubled throughout and I only really recall one significant save.
McGinn – Some feel he’s dipped in form recently and that may be so but today he was back to his best both defensively and offensively.
Porteous – I thought a couple of attempted fifty yard passes were odd decisions to make but overall, I thought Ryan had a decent game.
Hanlon – Paul had one moment when he misread a situation, but he wasn’t punished for it thankfully and he had a good 95 minutes.
Doig – For me, Josh was a bit sloppy in possession for the first 15 minutes or so, but he settled down and went on to play his part in the win.
Boyle – Facing two or more defenders in the first half curtailed his effectiveness somewhat but he had a stonking second half, capped by that waltz through the United defence that was so crudely halted.
Hallberg – In there to do the Gogic job I thought he was outstanding from start to finish. Accepted that his dead ball delivery could be better, but he covered every blade of grass today and more than compensated for the man he had replaced. With two or three in the frame I’ve plumped for him as my man of the match.
Newell – Quietly influential but once he got that first half injury he was always going to need to be replaced.
Irvine – I’ve been lukewarm about Jackson in recent weeks, but I thought he was fantastic today and was very much in my thoughts for man f the match.
Nisbet – His game awareness just grows and grows. A very clever and talented footballer who doesn’t always get the credit he deserves for his work off the ball. There were a couple of instinctive touches today that took my breath away. Another just beaten to my man of the match award.
Doidge – The usual hard working display from Christian but I have to praise that finish for the second goal. Sweetly struck and not a sclaff in sight.
Magennis – Played wide left again and unable to get involved enough but he didn’t do anything wrong and will have benefitted from the minutes.
McGregor – Big Daz just did what big Daz does – never gave an opponent a sniff.
Murphy – Jamie wasn’t on for long, but I felt he made a positive impact. If he can stay fit, he’ll be a valuable asset for our three remaining games this season.
Jack Ross – The look of absolute delight on his face when he went on at the end to congratulate his players was a joy to behold.
Referee – I actually like Madden as a referee because he lets the game flow but on the one occasion today that he didn’t he denied Hibs a third goal.