Neil Lennon, the Hibernian manager, believes his team are in excellent fettle for Saturday's Championship opener away to Falkirk after they completed a promising pre-season campaign with a comprehensive destruction of Shrewsbury Town in yesterday's friendly at Greenhous Meadow.
The Northern Irishman was clearly enthused for the upcoming season after the English League Two side were swatted aside in the wake of impressive recent friendly victories over Motherwell and Birmingham, as well as a gallant two-legged effort against Brondby in the Europa League.
"We've had excellent preparations," said Lennon. "The two games against Brondby were great for us, both physically and mentally. You're never fully up to speed until you get into the season, but, as pre-seasons go, we couldn't have asked for much better.
READ MORE: Lennon: My Hibs team can learn something from Hearts
Hibs went ahead with their first chance of the match after four minutes when Liam Fontaine nodded James Keatings' free-kick in off the bar. Two minutes later they doubled their lead when Grant Holt stooped to power home a header at the near-post after brilliant work by teenager Scott Martin on the right.
The Shrews pulled one back in 55 minutes when ex-Motherwell winger Jim O'Brien rasped in a free-kick from just outside the box. But Hibs restored their two-goal advantage when Cummings capitalised on a slip from former Hibee Gary Deegan to slot home on the hour. And they struck again three minutes later when Keatings lobbed Jayson Leutwiler after latching on to a John McGinn pass.
Lennon expects to seal a deal for new Israeli goalkeeper Ofir Marciano today although the manager was thrilled with the display of Ross Laidlaw, who made a couple of brilliant stops. "Hopefully we'll get Marciano concluded," said Lennon. "You're never happy until it's done but if we can get that over the line, it will be great. We're pleased with Ross as well. In the two games he's played, he's been outstanding. The plan is for Marciano to be the No.1. He's an international goalkeeper with good attributes, but if that doesn't work out I know I've already got a good goalkeeper in Laidlaw, who's put a marker down."
Hibs team: Laidlaw, McGregor, Hanlon, Fontaine, Harris, McGinn (Boyle 67), Martin (Stanton 71), Stevenson (Crane 71), Keatings (Carmichael 73), Holt (Forster 67), Cummings (Shaw 80). Sub not used: Virtanen.
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