HIBS WIN EDINBURGH DERBY WITH A DIFFERENCE AS GRAY MAKES WINNING START

New Hibsboss David Gray made a winning start to his managerial career as he guided twocontrasting teams – each given 45 minutes to impress - to a comfortable winover Edinburgh City at Meadowbank. In a glorified training exercise that wasall about building match fitness after a solid week of training, Gray will headto Holland with his team on Monday morning armed with plenty of insight into analready-familiar squad.

Goals fromChris Cadden, Dylan Levitt and Harry McKirdy – with a 30-yard screamer – put Hibs3-0 up at half-time. Gray then changed his entire XI at the break, beforewatching Reuben McAllister and Josh Campbell seal a comfortable 5-0 win.

Withinternational players only just back from their extra week off, there wasalways going to be a makeshift look to the starting XI for the ‘other’Edinburgh derby. The fact that Josef Bursik was the only new signing to makethe match-day squad was a reminder of just how early Hibs are in their pre-season.

In a teamthat included Riley Harbottle, Nohan Kenneh and Harry McKirdy, plus a handfulof youngsters, the scoring was opened by a familiar face. Playing in a slightlytweaked position.

Pushed up onthe right wing, Cadden found himself in the box at the perfect moment to latchon to a Levitt ball over the top, taking advantage of confusion in the defenceto finish beyond City goalie Mark Weir. With less than a quarter of an hourgone, Hibs were in total control.

They doubledtheir lead with 23 minutes on the clock, Levitt bagging a goal to go with hisassist when Dylan Vente unselfishly cut the ball across for a side-foot finishfrom the midfielder. City, finally granted their SFA Bronze Licence beforekick-off, were unable to cope with even a second/third string Hibs.

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The visitorsmade it 3-0 just before the half-hour mark, making the bold decision to hit abouncing ball first-time from 30 yards out – and seeing it pay off as the ballarced over the keeper and into the back of the net. Underlining the real valueof this game, the entire starting XI then did sprints before heading to the gymfor a workout.

The new teampicked up right where the starters had left off, McAllister ripping the ballpast Weir in the opening moments of the second half. With Jake-Doyle Hayes makinghis first appearance since last August, the Hibs fans in a crowd of a round2000 weren’t short of interesting storylines. Josh Campbell bagged a fifth forthem to celebrate with a thumping finish with 65 minutes gone.

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