[ritchiebaby]

Hibs move on to League Cup duty on Wednesday, welcoming Stranraer to Easter Road. The game kicks off at 7.45pm and will be a great chance to score a few goals and have a reasonably comfortable passage into the next round. But remember this is Hibs so expect the unexpected.

Stranraer suffered a home defeat to 10-man Ayr United on Saturday in League One. The player virtually guaranteed to have a good game against us is former Hibee, Paul Cairney. He's dropped down two divisions and should be one of their star men. Another who could give us a few problems is Mark McGuigan. He's a 6'4" striker who will fancy his chances against the Hibs central defence.

Hibs should be in the mood to do well here and have to get their confidence up and score a few goals. Anything less than 4 goals will not be good enough and we should be hoping for more. We might lose a few in the process, but I'll put up with that for extra goals scored. Dan Carmichael played today against Rangers and could do with the match practice, so he should be straight in. I'd also change the front men, as they're not clicking. Our midfield are doing well in general play, but need to be more clinical in the opposition penalty box. The defence seems to be coping fairly well, the only real concern for me is Stubbs' complete obsession in playing Oxley in goals. Reguero needs to be getting a game or two under his belt, in case he is needed at some stage. I get the impression that Oxley could be walking around on crutches during the week and Stubbs would still pick him on the Saturday.

My team to progress to the next round:-

Reguero,
Gray (if fit, if not, Dunsmore), Hanlon, Fontaine, Stevenson,
Fyvie, Henderson, Carmichael,
Malonga, Martin, Boyle.

Subs - Stanton, McGinn, Cummings.
Now, Alan, please play them all with more than 15 minutes to go. 

[hibeejim21]

Praying keatings or farid are close to fitness soon.... If so this might be ideal to give them some game time.

Going by today henderson,boyle and carmichael all need to play in this for a variety of reasons.

[ritchiebaby]

From what I've read, El Alagui will not be ready until after the first week in September. It can't come quick enough as far as I'm concerned.

[hibeejim21]

This game is going to be needed to improve fitness, too many of the team were blowing out their erses second half at ibrox. For the second season in a row or preperation and squad has been been short of the mark.

not good enough.

[supercooper]

Got a soft spot for the raer! Family down in Sandhead come on the raer.

[ritchiebaby]

As expected after our latest transfer dealing, Darren McGregor is at right-back. There's a distinct lack of strikers on the pitch for my liking, but we are certainly dominant in an attacking sense, 8 shots, 6 on target and 6 corners in the first half. Goals??? Don't be silly!!! I'm expecting a big increase in the goals scored column, ideally early in the second half. Once again I hope our lack of goals doesn't bite us on the bum later on.

HT Hibs 0 Stranraer 0.

---

Hibs take the lead with a Scott Rumsby own goal. Rumsby now has the doubtful privilege of being only one behind Hibs top scorer this season. Sign him up!!!

---

Carmichael replaces Fyvie because of injury. I notice Keatings has made it onto the bench, so we might get 15 minutes from him - only if someone is injured of course.

[ritchiebaby]

Keatings did come on with 16 minutes to go, but not because of injury! Our third substitute was not used yet again. What a waste not to give someone some game time. Stubbs obviously thinks everything is just fine the way it is and I wish I could share his confidence.

FT Hibs 1 Stranraer 0. The important thing is that we're through to the next round with the draw taking place tomorrow at 2.30pm.

[0762]

This match never resembled a proper cup tie from start to finish - it was like watching a bounce game! The biggest losers were Hibs fans although no jeering evident at any time. I can't figure why Stubbs didn't field Reguero in place of Oxley just to send out a message of intent that there is competition for the position. It's gonna be a long, unbearable season if Stubbs doesn't resolve the striking problem!!!

[hibeejim21]

A really poor cup tie,but we got through and thats what counts.

Mcgeough's performance was the highpoint. Mcgregor at rb looked like another that needed games,indeed he was lucky to stay on the park after a shocker of an off the ball challenge. keatings couldnae have had more than 10 mins near the end and looks nowhere near ready.

We are crying out for some pace and intent up front,cummings tries hard but it's just not happening.

[0762]

Re your last line on a lack of pace and intent Hibeejim, one thing that stood out like a sore thumb last night is the missing Scott Allan! We've sold a dynamic mid player who was a stand out, particularly at this level, and we can only hope that this loss can be balanced out as our season progresses. One of my personal gripes is the fact we have no free kick expert in our ranks. Hibs were awarded three decent direct free kicks last night and Henderson did nowt with any of them. I remember Hibs being awarded a direct free kick in a decent position, 1st half at Ibrox. Cummings picked up the ball, took it, and blasted the ball over the bar as expected because he's no good at taking free kicks!!! If I was Hibs captain, I'dve told him to b#####r off and give it to another player who may at least have had half a chance of scoring from such a direct free kick! I can't believe that we have no player with that ability within our 1st team pool of players! Also we don't score enough goals from outside the opposition pen box either - a failure that goes back a long time!