[ritchiebaby]

At last, a game against a club that's having an even worse start to the season than we are!

For the third round of the League Cup, it's a long trip to Dingwall on Tuesday night which must surely limit the number of away fans in attendance. Ross County are firmly at the foot of the Premiership with nool pwaa and -15 goal difference. Like other teams, even they will think they have a chance of beating Hibs and Rocco Quinn will be their main threat, ably supported by Michael Gardyne. Quinn had an abysmal game against The Sheep yesterday and will be looking to get back on track quickly. Ex-Hibbie Mark Brown will be in goal for The Staggies.

Alan Stubbs warns that there is no quick-fix at Hibs, but to stand any chance we'll need a much better performance from Malonga from The Congo, the lowlight being a free-kick which hit the stand roof. I'd be tempted to "rest" Paul Hanlon for this one as he's struggling a bit at the moment. I'd also have Stanton on the bench for later in the game, possibly with Robertson and Handling being the other substitutes being used - please use them early enough, Alan. As we need to quickly find a settled team, I'd play as many first choices as possible. They all need game time together and they need to start brightly and take their chances early to put County under some pressure. Not much to ask, surely.

My team -
Oxley
Gray, Fontaine, Forster, Stevenson
Sinclair, Kennedy, McGeouch, Allan
Cummings, Malonga

[ritchiebaby]

Alan Stubbs' team is Oxley, Hanlon, Forster, Fontaine, Gray, Craig, Stevenson, Robertson, McGeouch, Cummings and Malonga. The substitutes are Harris, Heffernan, Sinclair, Allan, Booth, Kennedy and Perntreou.

I thought Craig had rightly been forgotten about, but he's back. Let's hope the substitutes are warmed up ready with at least 30 minutes to go, because with that midfield, we'll need them. Presumably Hanlon is at left-back with Stevenson moving into midfield.

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And Malonga scores for Hibs after 22 minutes with a header from a Lewis Stevenson cross.

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Malonga scores another for Hibs to go 2 up, from another Lewis Stevenson cross. Although Hibs Facebook page says that Liam Craig provided the cross for the first goal.

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County have been shocked into a substitution - midfielder Richard Brittain on to replace defender Jim Fenlon after 40 minutes. It's now reached halftime - Ross County 0 Hibs 2.

[ritchiebaby]

Ross County bring on their 3rd substitute with over half an hour to go. That's what should be done when you're down. Gardyne and Boyce replace De Leeuw and Kiss.

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Hibs' Dylan McGeouch gets a straight red card for a tackle on Joe Cardle.

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Alan Stubbs makes an immediate substitution, bringing on Scott Allan for Jason Cumming with less than 10 minutes to go.

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Then Paul Heffernan comes on for Dominique Malonga in the last 5 minutes. Alan Stubbs trying to break up any Ross County impetus.

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Full-time at Dingwall. Ross County 0 Hibs 2. Stats show Hibs had 14 shots with 8 on target. Sounds much better in an attacking sense and Hibs keep a clean sheet.

[supercooper]

Good result for you boys.

[El Car]

Ross County were the right team to get at this stage, but it was still a good result for Hibs and a timely confidence booster. Well done to you chaps.

[ritchiebaby]

Thanks, lads. It's still a long, hard road but we might, just might, be going in the right direction now.

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QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Ties to be played on 28 and 29 October

Rangers v St Johnstone
Hibernian v Dundee United
Aberdeen v Hamilton Academical
Celtic v Partick Thistle

Let's hope United know we're on our way!  

[ritchiebaby]

Our tie will probably be played on Wednesday 29th October as we are due to beat Hearts on Sunday 26th.  

[supercooper]

You have no worries about giving them a pen