Christian Doidge’s fortuitous winner spared Hibernian’s embarrassment as they laboured past League 2 strugglers Forfar Athletic in the Scottish Cup fourth round.
Home goalkeeper Marc McCallum was the hero in the first half as he batted away Joe Newell’s penalty, awarded after Roberto Nditi was adjudged to have fouled Lewis Stevenson.
But it was head in hands for the Forfar number one when he failed to claim a free-kick and could only watch the ball bounce off Doidge and into the back of the net.
Ray McKinnon’s fourth-tier side had numerous chances to hit the front as they threatened the Premiership outfit with a cup shock.
A bumper crowd in Station Park were roused in the early stages as Forfar twice hit the woodwork.
Seb Ross’ instinctive scissor kick cracked off a post, before Stuart Morrison’s header from a corner brushed the opposite upright.
Newell’s spot-kick had the opportunity to make up for youngster Rudy Molotkinov’s skewed header, but McCallum’s strong stop added to the sense of unease in the Hibs ranks.
It could have been much worse if Morrison had managed to bury either of his big opportunities to score, with the visiting defence not sure if they were going for the ball or a bridie.
The second period became more fraught and frantic as both sides traded blows as Doidge scuppered a pair of chances and Ross was denied by a strong David Marshall save.
With Nick Montgomery’s men struggling to find inspiration in Angus, their slice of fortune was a huge sigh of relief as they progressed to Sunday’s last-16 draw.
What they said
Forfar manager Ray McKinnon: “The players can be really proud. They put in a big shift and played some good football. They created a lot of chances against a very good Hibs side in the first half. We’ll be disappointed not to take anything out the game.
“The guys were excellent today. It’s a sore one to take. On chances, we created more chances. I’m really pleased for the lads. They’ve been building up that performance level for three or four weeks.”
Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery: “At half-time, it wasn’t good enough and I told the boys. You can’t turn up here and think it’s going to be easy. There were some scary moments in there, but we’re through to the next round.
“All credit to them, they made the game difficult. If anything, we made the game difficult for ourselves in the first half.
Line-ups
Forfar
Formation 5-4-1
- 1McCallum
- 5AllanSubstituted forMykytaat 86′minutes
- 6MorrisonBooked at 68mins
- 19Munro
- 15Hutchinson
- 3Brindley
- 2NditiBooked at 30minsSubstituted forThomsonat 70′minutes
- 10Whatley
- 16Robson
- 14Ross
- 9SkellySubstituted forMohammedat 54′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Thomson
- 8Moore
- 11Inglis
- 12Mykyta
- 17Watson
- 18Paterson
- 20Mohammed
- 21Paris
Hibernian
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Marshall
- 49WhittakerSubstituted forObitaat 76′minutes
- 5Fish
- 4Hanlon
- 16Stevenson
- 14Jeggo
- 11NewellBooked at 53minsSubstituted forLevittat 57′minutes
- 7YouanBooked at 37minsSubstituted forMcKirdyat 83′minutes
- 35MolotnikovSubstituted forVenteat 57′minutes
- 29da Veiga Vieira Tavares
- 23Doidge
Substitutes
- 6Levitt
- 9Vente
- 21Obita
- 22McKirdy
- 31Johnson
- 41Blaney
- 53Landers
- Referee:
- Ross Hardie
- Attendance:
- 4,012
Live Text
-
Match ends, Forfar Athletic 0, Hibernian 1.
-
Second Half ends, Forfar Athletic 0, Hibernian 1.
-
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
-
Delay in match because of an injury Adam Hutchinson (Forfar Athletic).
-
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Adam Hutchinson.
-
Foul by Harry McKirdy (Hibernian).
-
Seb Ross (Forfar Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Jordan Obita (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Stuart Morrison (Forfar Athletic).
-
Will Fish (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Rayan Mohammed (Forfar Athletic).
-
Substitution, Forfar Athletic. Tyler Mykyta replaces Matty Allan.
-
Substitution, Hibernian. Harry McKirdy replaces Élie Youan.
-
Attempt blocked. Jordan Obita (Hibernian) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
-
Attempt missed. Rayan Mohammed (Forfar Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
-
Jair Tavares (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
-
Foul by Matty Allan (Forfar Athletic).
-
Substitution, Hibernian. Jordan Obita replaces Rory Whittaker.
-
Substitution, Forfar Athletic. Craig Thomson replaces Roberto Nditi.
-
Goal! Forfar Athletic 0, Hibernian 1. Christian Doidge (Hibernian) header from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Jair Tavares following a set piece situation.
Player of the match
MorrisonStuart Morrison
Forfar Athletic
-
Squad number6Player nameMorrison
-
Squad number2Player nameNditi
-
Squad number16Player nameRobson
-
Squad number19Player nameMunro
-
Squad number14Player nameRoss
-
Squad number20Player nameMohammed
-
Squad number15Player nameHutchinson
-
Squad number9Player nameSkelly
-
Squad number7Player nameThomson
-
Squad number12Player nameMykyta
-
Squad number10Player nameWhatley
-
Squad number3Player nameBrindley
-
Squad number1Player nameMcCallum
-
Squad number5Player nameAllan
Hibernian
-
Squad number23Player nameDoidge
-
Squad number22Player nameMcKirdy
-
Squad number21Player nameObita
-
Squad number16Player nameStevenson
-
Squad number5Player nameFish
-
Squad number4Player nameHanlon
-
Squad number1Player nameMarshall
-
Squad number29Player nameJair Tavares
-
Squad number35Player nameMolotnikov
-
Squad number6Player nameLevitt
-
Squad number9Player nameVente
-
Squad number11Player nameNewell
-
Squad number7Player nameYouan
-
Squad number14Player nameJeggo
-
Squad number49Player nameWhittaker