Hibs instant analysis as Boyle late show earns Hampden trip

Trailing at half-time to Scott Tanser’s well-taken opener, Nick Montgomery’s side produced four goals after the interval to book their place at Hampden in rollercoaster fashion. Elie Youan diverted Will Fish’s header home to level before Dylan Vente fired the home side ahead almost immediately after.

Keanu Baccus smashed in an equaliser with 14 minutes left, only for Martin Boyle to steal the show with two goals that propelled the Hibees towards the national stadium in early November. Patrick McPartlin and Liam Bryce were in Leith to provide the instant analysis.

Hampden calling

There’s momentum building at Easter Road, no doubt about it. And there are few better ways to further instil a feel-good factor than booking a trip to the national stadium. Even so early on in Montgomery’s tenure, this fixture had the potential to be significant: a cup tie against one of the country’s form teams, a first big test for his reshaped side and the chance to play at Hampden. It’s one their manager will be hugely encouraged to see them pass, even without being at their best. St Mirren are no easy nut to crack, unbeaten until this evening, and scoring four times against them is a sure sign this team will help themselves to goals against most domestic opponents. With holders Celtic already out of the competition, and Rangers not exactly setting the heather alight at the minute, the Viaplay Cup has that 2020/21 feeling of openness about it.

Liam Bryce

Boyle getting back to his best

Martin Boyle has earned plaudits from Nick Montgomery for his unselfish play in the previous two matches, and sympathy for a lack of luck in front of goal. The Australian internationalist looks to be getting back to his best after his ten-month injury lay-off and capped off a fine performance with the winning goal - emphatically slammed in off the underside of the bar. He could have made it a double with time running out, Zach Hemming blocking the effort with his legs, but Boyle went one better in injury time as he swept home after a devastating counter-attack. Montgomery said in his pre-match remarks that he wouldn't like to be a defender coming up against the talismanic attacker - on Wednesday night's display, you can see why. 

Patrick McPartlin

Vente showing his worth

Dylan Vente took his tally to five in ten games, and three in three under Nick Montgomery with the second goal for Hibs and the Dutchman is showing exactly why the Easter Road hierarchy forked out north of £700,000 for his services. Lewis Miller deserves credit for his work in the build-up to the goal, and questions might well be asked of the St Mirren defence, who appeared happy to stand by and allow Vente all the time in the world to steady himself and pick his spot. The 24-year-old said himself earlier in the campaign that he was still chasing full fitness and vowed there was more to come - so far he hasn't disappointed. Sourcing a ready-made replacement for Kevin Nisbet was several months in the making and while there was an element of risk, the former Roda man has proven Hibs were right to spend big to secure his signature.

Patrick McPartlin

A half-time rocket?

Hibs dominated the ball for long periods of the opening 45 minutes but there simply wasn’t enough pace in the play to seriously trouble a St Mirren side who are all about being hard to beat. They retreated into a 5-3-2 when Hibs started building from the back, rarely applying pressure when either Will Fish or Rocky Bushiri walked out with the ball. Joe Newell and Jimmy Jeggo were constantly making themselves available but there was too often a chasm between the midfield two and the front four, making it difficult to progress the ball into the final third. With not as much variety as was evident against St Johnstone at the weekend, St Mirren’s back five were able to deny Hibs’ forward line space to operate in. The lack of sufficient tempo was epitomised in a number of players just being half a yard too slow at St Mirren’s opening goal. To Hibs’ credit, there was a noticeable difference after the interval – Fish being first to the ball at a corner forced the first goal, and sharp, incisive play after St Mirren gave the ball away in midfield allowed Vente to score the second. Montgomery projects a sense of calm on the touchline, but you do wonder if he had a few choice words to impart upon his players at the interval.

Liam Bryce

What if plan B is just doing plan A, but better?

One piece of criticism levelled at Hibs in recent times has been that they lack a plan B, something different to do when things aren't going their way. At times under Lee Johnson the alternative might have been something as drastic as multiple half-time subs, changing formation, or sticking a centre-back up top for the final few minutes in search of a goal. Montgomery's approach was to keep faith in plan A, but execute it better. Hibs were sharper, quicker, more incisive, and more clinical in the second half. Montgomery clearly has faith in the way he wants Hibs to play and it was refreshing to see Hibs continue what they had been doing, but do it better. There were still a couple of heart-in-mouth moments, and there is still much work to be done. But things are undoubtedly heading in the right direction.

Patrick McPartlin