Hibernian 3 - 4 Morton

Hibernian 3 - Keenan (80), Shiels (85), Pinau (91)
Morton 4 - Russell (29, 115 pen), Masterton (66), Harding (118)

Att: 14874

What a match! Morton progressed to the next round of the Co-Operative Insurance cup after coming out on top in this seven goal thriller at Easter Road.

Davie Irons went with a 3-5-2 formation for the first time this season. Peter Weatherson and Kevin Finlayson dropped out of the starting eleven that played against Dundee on Saturday. Stevie Masterton and Allan McManus came in. The team lined up as you would expect except Irons decided to put Shimmin in midfieldwhere he sat in front of the midfield in an attempt to stifle Dean Shiels.

The Morton support were in dreamland in the 29th minute when Iain Russell scored to put us one nil up (totally against the run of play; Kevin Cuthbert had been in inspiritional form pulling off numerous saves up to this point) when he rounded McNeil and, from what looked an impossible angle, hooked a shot that evaded Ian Murray on the line.

Stevie Masterton made it two with a Beckham-esque free-kick. A 30 yarder that sailed into the postage stamp top corner. He more than justified his tag as dead ball specialist with this screamer. 30 yard effort that

We looked to be holding our lead in the face of increasing Hibs pressure until, with ten minutes to go, former Chelsea kid Joe Keenan unleashed a thunderbolt from his left foot to make it 2-1. One of those shots you know is going in as soon as it leaves the player's foot.

It seemed inevitable that Hibs would score again. The inevitable came just five minutes later. Northern Ireland internationalist Dean Shiels waltzed past a couple of tired Morton challenges to slot past Cuthbert and send the game into extra time.

A Hibs win in extra time had more inevitability about it than their equaliser. Everyone around me was commenting on how knackered the boys looked after the shift they'd put in. More than one person thought we were looking at a repeat of Aberdeen's 7-3 win aet around ten years ago. Steven Pinau seemed to have confirmed our fears one minute into extra-time when he side footed high past Cuthbert to finish off a superb passing move by Hibs.

We were all wrong. An Allan Jenkins volley was blocked by a combination of Shiels' ribs and elbow and referee brines pointed to the spot to hand us an unlikely lifeline. Iain Russell looked the coolest man on the planet and he stepped and beat Hibs substitute keeper Grof high to his right. Excellent penalty.

Before we even had a chance to settle down in anticipation of the impending penalty shootout we scored a winner. Erik Paartalu looked to have fouled - assaulted if you're Mixu Paatelainen - Chris Hogg on the edge of the Hibs penalty area. Brines gave the decision our way - about time we benefited from a dodgy decision. Peter Weatherson stepped up and smashed the free-kick at goal, Grof cleared with his feet but the ball fell right into Ryan Harding's path and he slotted home from close range to send the Ton fans wild and his old club crashing out of the League Cup.

This will go down as on of the great nights in Morton's recent history. Well done lads! Let's take that performance into our league campaign and we'll soon be moving up the league.

Morton (3-5-2):

1. Cuthbert - 9
2. Shimmin - 8
3. Walker - 6 (15. Weatherson - 46 mins)
4. McManus - 7
5. Paartalu - 7
6. Harding - 7
7. McGuffie - 7
8. Masterton - 8 (12. Jenkins - 85 mins)
9. Wake - 8 (14. Newby - 110 mins)
10. Russell - 9
11. McAlister - 9

Subs Not Used:

16. McAnespie
20. Stewart

Booked: Paartalu, McManus

Cuthbert
Harding McManus Walker

Shimmin
McGuffie Paartalu Masterton McAlister
Russell Wake

Hibernian: McNeil (Grof 43), van Zanten, Hogg, Murray, Stevenson, Shiels, Keenan, Rankin, Morais (Zemmama 46), Fletcher, Nish (Pinau 73).

Subs Not Used: Campbell, Canning.

Booked: Stevenson, Hogg, Pinau


My man of the match: Iain Russell

Sponsor's man of the match: Iain Russell


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)













Greenock Telegraph match report

highlights and interview with Paatelainen from hibernianfc.tv

Tontastic Pictures

BBC match report

hibs.co.uk match report

hibs.co.uk match reaction