Jonnyboy
20-01-2022, 11:38 PM
Scottish Cup ties always get the blood running quicker through the veins, especially when they are played under the lights at Easter Road. I can’t claim this was a thriller as there were several periods of play that could best be described as a hard watch but, at times, Hibs played some lovely stuff but that came in shortish bursts as opposed to longer periods of time. The game was played against the backdrop of news that Martin Boyle looks certain to leave and I’d like to take tis opportunity to wish the guy all the best and thank him for all of his efforts whilst playing for Hibs. On arrival at the club, he looked like a guy with rapier speed but little else but as the years rolled on he improved dramatically and that has earned him a move which could set him and his family up for life as well as boosting the club’s bank balance.
Back to the game – Shaun Maloney surprised a few by bringing Melker Hallberg into the team on the right side of a back three that included Hanlon and Stevenson whilst debuts were given to Euan Henderson and Chris Mueller who partnered Christian Doidge up front. Maloney correctly said of Cove that their players were not League 1 players and their manager was not a League 1 manager, the visitors arriving on the back of a fifteen game unbeaten run. It soon became evident that they protect their goal fearlessly throughout the game and indeed they defended stoutly getting everyone behind the ball when Hibs had it at the back.
The first ten minutes were uneventful and then Henderson sent a free kick high over the bar and into the empty South Stand. It was Henderson again minutes later after the lively Chris Mueller had set him up but this time the effort was blocked. Cove weren’t being seen much in attack yet but looked organised when they had the chance to break forward. Around the twenty minute mark, Mueller fired in a left footed effort, but Gourlay in the Cove goal was untroubled. Moments later, Connor Scully was booked for a crude challenge on Cadden as the Hibs man looked to break into the Cove box.
Cove left back, Harry Milne was lucky to escape a card when he lunged into a tackle on Josh Campbell, but the defender went on to have a fine game and certainly caught my eye. Chris Mueller also caught the eye with his non stop movement and good use of the ball together with a fine turn leaving his marker stranded. A fabulous Mueller cross from the left reached Doidge and the big fella was unlucky when his headed effort went the wrong side of the post.
With the half hour mark on the clock, Cove had two efforts at goal with the first from Strachan being blocked and the second from Neill forcing a save out of Matt Macey. Soon after, Doidge ran on to a loose ball and slotted it past Gourlay, but the offside flag was up. I confess that from my angle I thought the decision was correct, but I understand the goal should have stood because Doidge was onside. Prior to the half time whistle, Doidge was unlucky with an overhead kick and Doig blasted over the bar from close range. I thought the keeper got a touch and so did a few Hibs players, but referee Euan Anderson felt differently and awarded Cove a goal kick.
Neither side made any changes at the break, and it was Cove that started the better forcing a couple of corners before Megginson had a shot saved easily by Macey. Moments later, Masson tried his luck, but the effort was blocked and by now the home fans were getting pretty restless, fed up with the defence and midfield almost invariably passing the ball sideways or backwards. To freshen things up, Maloney replaced Doidge and Henderson with Nisbet, and Murphy and the new guys tried a one two, releasing Cadden but his low cross flashed across the goal with no takers.
A Nisbet shot was blocked and then Mueller made the keeper work with a low drive, Gourlay saving to his right. Hibs were pressing more now but still struggling to break down a packed defence with Mueller and Murphy both seeing efforts blocked. Into the last ten minutes, Hallberg who had done pretty well in that position gave way to Doyle-Hayes. Jake came into midfield and Josh Campbell dropped back to the right of our back three but try as they might, Hibs just couldn’t break the deadlock and boos rang around the stadium as the game went into extra time. Chris Mueller who had run himself into the ground with his non stop action was replaced by James Scott.
Cove were definitely starting to look weary by now but let’s not forget, a few of the Hibs players had played at Parkhead just a few days earlier so their muscles would be feeling it too.. There was still frustration amongst the home support with play taking an age to develop although Murphy and Doig both saw chances thwarted. To their credit, Cove did try to beak forward themselves and on a couple of occasions only the determination of Lewis Stevenson stopped them in their tracks. On one occasion, McAllister who had only come on with twenty minutes of normal time remaining, was chased and hunted down by Lewis with another Cove player in close attendance.
Half time in extra time brought a few boos but the mood lightened a bit when Nisbet fired a low shot in, but the attempt drifted just wide of the post. Five minutes later, Josh Doig, fed by Murphy, sent in a lovely low ball and Nisbet was on hand to fire it home with his left foot. I’ll be honest here – I was doubly delighted for Kevin because he’s been getting a hard time of late, plus the ‘fan’ who sits along to my left was shut up from screaming obscenities at Nisbet every time he went near the ball. I considered taking the guy to task but the bloke behind him said “That shut you up eh, ya dick” Eloquently put, I thought.
Cove had no option but to throw bodies forward and that they did when a free kick into the Hibs box reached Milne who struck the ball at goal. Macey couldn’t hold it and Megginson pounced, only to see his attempt blocked for a corner by Nisbet. As the game ended, the boos turned to cheers and extra applause was aimed at Chris Mueller when he came over to the East Stand to acknowledge the fans. The sponsors named him as their man of the match and I’m awarding him mine too.
The players
Macey – Largely untroubled but did have to make a couple of routine saves. It’s getting boring saying this, but I still feel his distribution at times is woeful.
Hallberg – Given that he’s been out injured for months and the fact that he was playing in a position that surprised us all, I reckon he put in a good shift.
Hanlon – Paul was getting pelters from some, me included on occasion as he took an age to pick out a forward pass. Now some will argue that he can’t pass forward if nobody shows for the ball but on umpteen occasions tonight, Newell, Campbell and Mueller did just that. I remarked that if that had been Ryan, he’d have broken forward into the space created by the movement of his team mates. It was his birthday today and Euan Anderson marked the occasion by giving him a card.
Stevenson – On the left of the three, Lewis looked pretty comfortable and, in my view, put in the sort of performance he has always been capable of.
Cadden – Chris worked so, so hard down our right side and put a few very good crosses into the danger area. He is tireless and was still going at full pelt in extra time.
Campbell – Josh didn’t really catch the eye for anything worthy of mention, but he is another who will run until his legs drop off. Given that the manager wants his players to be non stop that’s not a bad attribute to have.
Newell – The go too man for our back three, Joe is generally always available and there’s some fans, me included at times, who get fed up with his sideways and backwards passes but at least it means we retain possession.
Doig – A few barnstorming runs down the left the laddie has huge amounts of energy to burn. I couldn’t believe my eyes during extra time when he kept popping up in the centre forward position!
Henderson – A quiet debut from Euan and I think maybe the strength and fitness coaches need to have him working on not getting easily shoved aside by opponents.
Mueller – I was stunned and delighted at just how well Chris played. Only a few days ago somebody reckoned he was miles off it in a bounce game. If that’s him miles off it, I can’t wait to see him when he is on it.
Doidge – It was good to see the big fella back in the saddle and he put in a great shift I thought. Unlucky with a couple of decent attempts tonight and if he was indeed onside when he ‘scored’ his bad luck just multiplied.
Murphy – Critical role in setting up the goal I actually thought he’d injured himself again as he stretched to pass the ball to Doig. Seemed ok at the end though.
Nisbet – This was anything but a ‘lazy’ performance from Kevin who put in the yards some accuse him of not doing. On one occasion he lost the ball in the centre circle but chased the Cove player down and won back possession. Scoring the winner will do his confidence the world of good.
Doyle-Hayes – Patrols the midfield well but needs to have more confidence in his own ability when we are trying to build an attack and he slows the game down.
Scott – What I thought was a slimline James Scott tried to stay wide on the left, stretching a tiring defence and to an extent he achieved just that.
Shaun Maloney – Still very early days and as he said post-match, getting in to the next round was the important thing.
Referee – Euan Anderson frustrated the home support a few times with dodgy decisions but otherwise he had an easy time of it.
Back to the game – Shaun Maloney surprised a few by bringing Melker Hallberg into the team on the right side of a back three that included Hanlon and Stevenson whilst debuts were given to Euan Henderson and Chris Mueller who partnered Christian Doidge up front. Maloney correctly said of Cove that their players were not League 1 players and their manager was not a League 1 manager, the visitors arriving on the back of a fifteen game unbeaten run. It soon became evident that they protect their goal fearlessly throughout the game and indeed they defended stoutly getting everyone behind the ball when Hibs had it at the back.
The first ten minutes were uneventful and then Henderson sent a free kick high over the bar and into the empty South Stand. It was Henderson again minutes later after the lively Chris Mueller had set him up but this time the effort was blocked. Cove weren’t being seen much in attack yet but looked organised when they had the chance to break forward. Around the twenty minute mark, Mueller fired in a left footed effort, but Gourlay in the Cove goal was untroubled. Moments later, Connor Scully was booked for a crude challenge on Cadden as the Hibs man looked to break into the Cove box.
Cove left back, Harry Milne was lucky to escape a card when he lunged into a tackle on Josh Campbell, but the defender went on to have a fine game and certainly caught my eye. Chris Mueller also caught the eye with his non stop movement and good use of the ball together with a fine turn leaving his marker stranded. A fabulous Mueller cross from the left reached Doidge and the big fella was unlucky when his headed effort went the wrong side of the post.
With the half hour mark on the clock, Cove had two efforts at goal with the first from Strachan being blocked and the second from Neill forcing a save out of Matt Macey. Soon after, Doidge ran on to a loose ball and slotted it past Gourlay, but the offside flag was up. I confess that from my angle I thought the decision was correct, but I understand the goal should have stood because Doidge was onside. Prior to the half time whistle, Doidge was unlucky with an overhead kick and Doig blasted over the bar from close range. I thought the keeper got a touch and so did a few Hibs players, but referee Euan Anderson felt differently and awarded Cove a goal kick.
Neither side made any changes at the break, and it was Cove that started the better forcing a couple of corners before Megginson had a shot saved easily by Macey. Moments later, Masson tried his luck, but the effort was blocked and by now the home fans were getting pretty restless, fed up with the defence and midfield almost invariably passing the ball sideways or backwards. To freshen things up, Maloney replaced Doidge and Henderson with Nisbet, and Murphy and the new guys tried a one two, releasing Cadden but his low cross flashed across the goal with no takers.
A Nisbet shot was blocked and then Mueller made the keeper work with a low drive, Gourlay saving to his right. Hibs were pressing more now but still struggling to break down a packed defence with Mueller and Murphy both seeing efforts blocked. Into the last ten minutes, Hallberg who had done pretty well in that position gave way to Doyle-Hayes. Jake came into midfield and Josh Campbell dropped back to the right of our back three but try as they might, Hibs just couldn’t break the deadlock and boos rang around the stadium as the game went into extra time. Chris Mueller who had run himself into the ground with his non stop action was replaced by James Scott.
Cove were definitely starting to look weary by now but let’s not forget, a few of the Hibs players had played at Parkhead just a few days earlier so their muscles would be feeling it too.. There was still frustration amongst the home support with play taking an age to develop although Murphy and Doig both saw chances thwarted. To their credit, Cove did try to beak forward themselves and on a couple of occasions only the determination of Lewis Stevenson stopped them in their tracks. On one occasion, McAllister who had only come on with twenty minutes of normal time remaining, was chased and hunted down by Lewis with another Cove player in close attendance.
Half time in extra time brought a few boos but the mood lightened a bit when Nisbet fired a low shot in, but the attempt drifted just wide of the post. Five minutes later, Josh Doig, fed by Murphy, sent in a lovely low ball and Nisbet was on hand to fire it home with his left foot. I’ll be honest here – I was doubly delighted for Kevin because he’s been getting a hard time of late, plus the ‘fan’ who sits along to my left was shut up from screaming obscenities at Nisbet every time he went near the ball. I considered taking the guy to task but the bloke behind him said “That shut you up eh, ya dick” Eloquently put, I thought.
Cove had no option but to throw bodies forward and that they did when a free kick into the Hibs box reached Milne who struck the ball at goal. Macey couldn’t hold it and Megginson pounced, only to see his attempt blocked for a corner by Nisbet. As the game ended, the boos turned to cheers and extra applause was aimed at Chris Mueller when he came over to the East Stand to acknowledge the fans. The sponsors named him as their man of the match and I’m awarding him mine too.
The players
Macey – Largely untroubled but did have to make a couple of routine saves. It’s getting boring saying this, but I still feel his distribution at times is woeful.
Hallberg – Given that he’s been out injured for months and the fact that he was playing in a position that surprised us all, I reckon he put in a good shift.
Hanlon – Paul was getting pelters from some, me included on occasion as he took an age to pick out a forward pass. Now some will argue that he can’t pass forward if nobody shows for the ball but on umpteen occasions tonight, Newell, Campbell and Mueller did just that. I remarked that if that had been Ryan, he’d have broken forward into the space created by the movement of his team mates. It was his birthday today and Euan Anderson marked the occasion by giving him a card.
Stevenson – On the left of the three, Lewis looked pretty comfortable and, in my view, put in the sort of performance he has always been capable of.
Cadden – Chris worked so, so hard down our right side and put a few very good crosses into the danger area. He is tireless and was still going at full pelt in extra time.
Campbell – Josh didn’t really catch the eye for anything worthy of mention, but he is another who will run until his legs drop off. Given that the manager wants his players to be non stop that’s not a bad attribute to have.
Newell – The go too man for our back three, Joe is generally always available and there’s some fans, me included at times, who get fed up with his sideways and backwards passes but at least it means we retain possession.
Doig – A few barnstorming runs down the left the laddie has huge amounts of energy to burn. I couldn’t believe my eyes during extra time when he kept popping up in the centre forward position!
Henderson – A quiet debut from Euan and I think maybe the strength and fitness coaches need to have him working on not getting easily shoved aside by opponents.
Mueller – I was stunned and delighted at just how well Chris played. Only a few days ago somebody reckoned he was miles off it in a bounce game. If that’s him miles off it, I can’t wait to see him when he is on it.
Doidge – It was good to see the big fella back in the saddle and he put in a great shift I thought. Unlucky with a couple of decent attempts tonight and if he was indeed onside when he ‘scored’ his bad luck just multiplied.
Murphy – Critical role in setting up the goal I actually thought he’d injured himself again as he stretched to pass the ball to Doig. Seemed ok at the end though.
Nisbet – This was anything but a ‘lazy’ performance from Kevin who put in the yards some accuse him of not doing. On one occasion he lost the ball in the centre circle but chased the Cove player down and won back possession. Scoring the winner will do his confidence the world of good.
Doyle-Hayes – Patrols the midfield well but needs to have more confidence in his own ability when we are trying to build an attack and he slows the game down.
Scott – What I thought was a slimline James Scott tried to stay wide on the left, stretching a tiring defence and to an extent he achieved just that.
Shaun Maloney – Still very early days and as he said post-match, getting in to the next round was the important thing.
Referee – Euan Anderson frustrated the home support a few times with dodgy decisions but otherwise he had an easy time of it.