Hibernian 3-0 Inverness CT

[OwenWright]

Mixu Paatelainen got off to a winning start as Hibernian boss as Dean Shiels' superb hat-trick saw off Inverness 3-0 in the Scottish Cup.

The Northern Irishman celebrated his return to the side by opening the scoring in the fourth-round tie against Caley after just five minutes at Easter Road. The lively playmaker doubled Hibs' lead in 53rd minute after nut-megging Phil McGuire on the edge of the box and got his hat-trick seven minutes from time.

Paatelainen was given a warm reception from the home fans as he emerged from the tunnel to take his seat in the dugout but the Finn would not have been entirely content with his side's start. Inside the first minute, Inverness striker Marius Niculae was afforded space to shoot from 20 yards but his tame shot was easily dealt with by Yves Ma-Kalambay.

Graham Bayne and Ross Tokely also had efforts on goal as the Easter Road side made a slow start.
However, that all changed in the fifth minute when Shiels accepted a pass from Paul Hanlon via Merouane Zemmama and found the corner of the net from 12 yards. With Hibs on a high, Zemmama met a corner on the edge of the box but his low shot was saved by Michael Fraser.

The hosts were keen to add to their lead and were producing fast, entertaining football. Fraser denied Zemmama in the 16th minute after a great solo run from the Moroccan which saw him skin McGuire on the edge of the box.

Inverness should have levelled the score two minutes later after Roy McBain's cross fell at the feet of Niculae but the Romanian's stab at the ball from close range was met by Ma-Kalambay. Despite a bright start from the visitors, it was literally one way traffic as Hibs ran the Inverness defence ragged.

Abdessalam Benjelloun found space inside the area to shoot but his curling effort sneaked round the wrong side of the post in the 28th minute. Zemmama then created room for himself on the 18-yard line after cutting inside Tokely but his shot sailed well wide.Inverness knew exactly what they had to in this clash and made a good start to the second period. Ma-Kalambay was forced into a save in the 47th minute after Niculae's long range deflected effort fell his way.

Two minutes later, Niculae sent Bayne down the wing with a neat back heel but the striker's shot sailed over the bar from an acute angle inside the box. Hibs responded by winning a corner and Filipe Morais' set-piece caused panic in the goalmouth area.

The hosts then took one step closer to the last 16 of the cup when Shiels notched his brace in the 53rd minute. The Northern Irishman nut-megged McGuire on the edge of the box before drilling the ball under Fraser. Paatelainen's charges came within inches of adding a third but Morais' low effort just crept past the far post.

Niculae was Inverness' most threatening player and he showed great foot work inside the box in the 73rd minute to create space but his deflected shot was saved by Ma-Kalambay. Moments later at the opposite end, substitute Mickael Antoine-Curier crossed for Morais but the Portuguese was unable to make contact with the ball just yards from goal.

Antoine-Curier then missed an open goal in the 75th minute. Zemmama crossed from the left but the Frenchman headed over with Fraser out of position. With seven minutes left, Shiels got his hat-trick after picking up the rebound to Morais' shot which struck the post.

The tie ended on a sour note, however, with McGuire and Morais both picking up their second yellow cards for squaring up to each other off the ball.