Match ends, Alloa Athletic 1, Hibernian 2.
AlloaAlloa Athletic1HibernianHibernian2
Hibernian came from behind against Championship rivals Alloa to reach the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.
Hibs keeper Mark Oxley allowed a speculative shot from Daryll Meggatt to slip through his grasp on 15 minutes.
But Liam Craig curled in a free-kick to level and David Gray headed the visitors in front before the interval.
The visitors faded after a bright first half and were hanging on after Dominique Malonga's late red card for an off-the-ball incident.
Alloa beat Hibs 2-1 on league duty in late August but Alan Stubbs' men have improved since then, saving their best form for the road.
The Edinburgh side scored six at Dumbarton last week and popped first-time passes around with confidence on the artificial surface, with the hosts forced to defend deep in their own territory.
Jason Cummings sent a first-time strike wide, while Malonga and Lewis Stevenson lifted shots narrowly over the top as Hibs dictated play.
However, Alloa found themselves in front after a glaring error from Oxley, who should have made a routine save as Meggatt let fly from 25-yards.
The Wasps then had a great chance to double their lead when Mark Cawley was allowed to break clear through the middle but the home midfielder skewed his shot wide with just Oxley to beat.
Moments later, Gray clattered a header against the back post as the visitors rediscovered their poise.
The game was all-square when Cawley was penalised for stopping a Scott Robertson shot with his hands on the edge of the penalty area and Craig found the bottom corner with a precise free-kick.
Full-backs Stevenson and Gray were prominent in attack for Hibs and it was the latter who found the net next when he rose at the back post to meet Scott Allan's cross and looped a header over keeper Craig McDowall.
Hibs defender Paul Hanlon volleyed straight at McDowall soon after and the first half closed with a header from the same player deflected just wide.
The impressive Allan was doing his best to drive his team on with a sequence of strong runs from midfield but Hibs found openings harder to come by after the interval.
Alloa continued to defend in numbers but had a glimpse of goal when Ryan McCord sliced a shot off-target and Oxley's less than convincing handling from corners must have been a source of hope for home fans.
Hibs introduced the youthful attacking trio of Alex Harris, Sam Stanton and Matthew Kennedy but the changes failed to make any impact, with Alloa beginning to look the more dangerous side.
And the hosts had an advantage in personnel for the last few minutes as Malonga was dismissed following an altercation with Ben Gordon but they failed to test Oxley.
Line-ups
Alloa
Formation 4-4-2
- 21McDowall
- 17Doyle
- 4Gordon
- 14BenedictusBooked at 83mins
- 5MeggattBooked at 43mins
- 3Docherty
- 18HetheringtonSubstituted forFernsat 76'minutes
- 8McCord
- 7Cawley
- 9Spence
- 19Buchanan
Substitutes
- 1Gibson
- 11Ferns
- 20Asghar
- 23Forsyth
- 24Wilson
Hibernian
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Oxley
- 2Gray
- 4Hanlon
- 5Fontaine
- 16Stevenson
- 8Robertson
- 19Handling
- 10CraigSubstituted forHarrisat 79'minutes
- 20AllanSubstituted forKennedyat 84'minutes
- 24MalongaBooked at 87mins
- 35CummingsSubstituted forStantonat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Harris
- 11Stanton
- 14Heffernan
- 18Sinclair
- 22Booth
- 30Kennedy
- 31Perntreou
- Referee:
- Bobby Madden
- Attendance:
- 2,138
Match Stats
Home TeamAlloaAway TeamHibernian
- Possession
- Home37%
- Away63%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away7
- Corners
- Home5
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Alloa Athletic 1, Hibernian 2.
Dismissal
Dominique Malonga (Hibernian) is shown the red card for fighting.
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Matthew Kennedy replaces Scott Allan.
Post update
Foul by Scott Robertson (Hibernian).
Post update
Ryan McCord (Alloa Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Kyle Benedictus (Alloa Athletic) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Liam Fontaine (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Greig Spence (Alloa Athletic).
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Alex Harris replaces Liam Craig because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Samuel Stanton replaces Jason Cummings.
Substitution
Substitution, Alloa Athletic. Edward Ferns replaces Steven Hetherington.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jason Cummings (Hibernian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jason Cummings (Hibernian) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Kevin Cawley.
Post update
Liam Craig (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Greig Spence (Alloa Athletic).
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Ben Gordon.
Post update
Attempt saved. Liam Craig (Hibernian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Jason Cummings (Hibernian).
