Hibernian 4 Stranraer 0

2002
Scottish Cup
Attendance:

Scorers:
Hibernian: Luna, Zitteli, Smith, Hurtado.

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotsman on Wednesday 16th January 2002

Sauzee is a winner at last as Hibs come good

FRANCK Sauzee has known many victories in his career which have given him far greater pleasure, but few will have delivered as much relief and satisfaction to the phlegmatic Frenchman than this one.

His first win as Hibs manager, their first in 11 games all told, was no more than was expected of his players against Second Division Stranraer, who found themselves overpowered and ultimately outclassed by the side sitting uncomfortably second bottom of the SPL.

Goals from Paco Luna and David Zitelli in the opening quarter of an hour banished all fears of an upset, and Hibs cruised into the last 16 of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup with further second-half strikes from Gary Smith and substitute Eduardo Hurtado.

Hibs supporters can now relish the discomfort of former manager Alex McLeish as he contemplates the embarrassment of a replay against Berwick Rangers to decide who will host Sauzee’s men in the fourth round.

Given the obvious strain of the situation surrounding him going into the tie, the last thing Sauzee needed was the news that his captain John O’Neil had failed a fitness test and would be a spectator on a bitterly cold Leith evening.

The influential O’Neil’s midfield berth went to Matthias Jack, while Derek Townsley was handed only his second start for Hibs in place of the suspended Freddy Arpinon, and Paco Luna replaced broken-leg victim Tom McManus in attack.

Sauzee made two other unenforced changes in the wake of Saturday’s defeat at Dundee, a result and performance which finally stretched his patience just too far.

Ulises de La Cruz was the highest-profile victim of Sauzee’s reshuffle, the club’s record signing relegated to the bench as Alen Orman was handed his right-flank role, and David Zitelli took over from young Gary O’Connor up front.

Unsurprisingly, Stranraer manager Billy McLaren kept faith with the side which earned all the plaudits from the goalless draw between the sides at Stair Park ten days earlier, and the Second Division side took just four minutes to signal hat they still had plenty of ambition left in the tie.

Ian Harty, their leading scorer who was released by Hearts as a youngster, stung the fingers of Nick Colgan with a 20-yard shot which the Hibs keeper gathered at the second attempt.

If that added to the tension already tangible around Easter Road, Luna’s opening goal for Hibs just two minutes later was equivalent to the release of a high-pressure valve.

It was a memorable effort, Grant Brebner sending Ulrik Laursen clear down the left and the Dane’s pinpoint cross thumped beyond the helpless Mark McGeown off Luna’s brow.

It was the Spaniard’s eighth goal for Hibs and his first since the 1-1 draw against Rangers at Ibrox immediately prior to Sauzee’s appointment.

It was a moment understandably savoured by the manager, who was soon able to begin enjoying his evening when his side doubled their advantage after a quarter-of-an-hour’s play.

Willie Young was in prime position to see Stranraer full-back Fraser Wright barge Zitelli to the ground as the French striker sprinted into the penalty area and the referee rightly pointed to the spot.

Zitelli got up to make a consummate job of the penalty, sending McGeown the wrong way to place the home side in firm control of a match which had been so full of potential anxieties.

The confidence boost of the early goals allowed Hibs to exert a dominance over their part-time opponents which had been beyond them in a feckless performance in the first match.

They looked to utilise the width of the pitch to the full through Laursen and Orman and, in spells, put together some slick moves to earn warm applause from the shivering home support.

Much of the vitality they displayed in the first half had been sparked by Zitelli, so it was a disappointment for Sauzee when his compatriot was forced to leave the action seven minutes before half-time with an apparent shoulder injury. O’Connor replaced him.

Brebner, who had missed a glaring chance to add to Hibs’ lead before the break, was replaced at the start of the second half by De la Cruz as Orman was pushed into a central midfield role.

The man from Ecuador wasted no time making his presence felt as he contributed to Hibs’ third goal just a minute after the restart. Luna’s persistence earned a corner on the right which De La Cruz whipped in with pace and precision.

Smith rose highest in a congested penalty area to head home his first-ever goal for Hibs, despite Wright’s desperate attempt to clear on the line.

Regardless of the cold and drizzle in Leith last night, De la Cruz was able to set about his work with far more relish than in the fog at Stranraer when he had cut a miserable figure when substituted after an hour.

His energy and skill drove Hibs forward in search of further goals and Stranraer were lurching like one of their home-town ferries on a choppy Irish Sea as Laursen, O’Connor and Luna all came within inches of adding to the scoreline.

Luna’s miss was something quite extraordinary as he contrived to volley wide of the target from no more than a yard after he had impudently nodded the ball over the advancing McGeown.

Sauzee made his final substitution 18 minutes from time, handing Eduardo Hurtado a late opportunity to prove first impressions are not always accurate, the giant Ecuadorian front man replacing Laursen.

Hurtado seized the chance, putting a final flourish on proceedings for Hibs when he forced home a De la Cruz corner from close range two minutes from time for his first Hibs goal.

Hibernian: Colgan, Laursen (Hurtado 73), Murray, Fenwick, Smith, Brebner (De la Cruz 45), Townsley, Jack, Orman, Luna, Zitelli (O’Connor 38). Subs not used): Caig, de La Cruz, O’Connor, Hurtado, Riordan.

Stranraer: McGeown, Gaughan (Blair 58), Wright, Wingate, Hodge, MacDonald, Finlayson, Aitken, Harty (Jenkins 45), Shaw, Grace. Subs: O’Neil, Jenkins, Blair, Paterson, Weir.

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