Hibernian 4 Morton 0
GRANT HOLT believes the floodgates have opened for Hibernian after ending his own dry spell in the 4-0 rout of Morton.
The Norwich City legend out-jumped Morton goalkeeper Derek Gaston on the stroke of half-time to give Hibs a two-goal advantage and effectively end the game as a contest - not that it ever really was one.
Holt’s maiden strike in Hibs colours was not the only landmark in a one-sided encounter, with Andrew Shinnie, on his first start since arriving on loan from Birmingham, and Brian Graham also opening their accounts.
Jason Cummings, predictably, enhanced his own burgeoning reputation with a smart finish for his sixth goal of the season as last week’s prediction by head coach Neil Lennon that his team would soon dish out a “heavy beating” came to fruition.
With the final tally four-going-on-eight, this was a performance reminiscent of Hearts’ Class of 2014/15 - a comparison the Easter Road faithful may not relish - when the Jambos regularly brushed aside opponents in the second tier. On this evidence, it is hard not to see Hibs doing the same.
“Nice to score my first goal? It's just nice to give someone a bit of a pumping!” Holt said. “It's been coming for weeks - we've just not been able to finish it off, myself included.
“I thought we were excellent. They came with a game plan to nullify us, but once we got the first goal it kind of relaxed us and I think we could have six or seven in the second half.
“I've been saying this week we need to put the ball in a little bit quicker and I think we managed that. We know we can create chances.
“I think when we play like that, there will be more results like that. We moved the ball around well and we are doing without being carved open, which is a good thing for us.
“I'm enjoying it. I have settled in really quickly and I think we have a good team. I said my ambition is to win the league and that's what I came up here to do.”
By the time Hibs broke the deadlock after 19 minutes, it had already been coming and Shinnie did the honours, turning home a close-range header following a deep Fraser Fyvie cross.
Holt doubled the advantage before Cummings struck after the break, turning in another header following some marvellous work from the irrepressible Shinnie.
Substitute Graham put the finishing touches to the rout with a clinical header on his home debut.
In truth, Morton can consider themselves fortunate they did not endure a more chastening defeat, with Cummings skewing wide after being sent clean through on goal in the first-period and Gaston making a super stop to deny Shinnie.
And it would be no exaggeration to suggest Martin Boyle could have claimed a hat-trick after climbing from the bench in the second period.
For Andy McNeil, the former Hibs goalkeeper who replaced the injured Gaston, it only served to cement the hosts’ status as runaway title favourites.
“We are still in the first quarter but there’s a feeling Hibs are strong favourites for the league,” said McNeil. “Things can flip quickly in football but at the minute Hibs are doing great and I can’t see that changing any time soon.”
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