Hibernian 1
Clydebank 1
League Cup (Group 3)

Match Report

The old Hibs fan sitting beside me in the windswept stand was in no doubt. "Auld must go," he said. "That's the only way this team'll improve." His was the popular view among the 3,000 or so fans at a dismal game, but also one slightly unfair on the cigar toting Easter Road boss.

For the supporters who booed and jeered Auld at the end of Wednesday's match ignored two very important facts about the game. Firstly, that their team's finishing was abysmal. Secondly, the young Bankies side put up a fighting performance and could well have taken both points.

In the end, a Derek Rodier goal on the hour mark denied them a win, but their showing more than made up for last week's tame defeat at the hands of the Edinburgh side.

Auld had asked for goals galore from his side after a disappointing result against Bill Munro's Airdrie at the weekend, but instead he must have puffed his way through many a Havana as his side trailed Bankies for much of the game.

Having weathered an early storm of pressure Bankies, kicking down the famous slope, broke away to take the lead with an opportunist goal.

Jim Given met a Gerry Ronald corner about 15 yards out and although Hibs skipper Alan Sneddon threw himself at the ball the blond midfielder's header floated past Jim McArthur.

From then on the game was something of a midfield battle, with neither side looking dangerous. But a second half substitution by Bertie Auld brought his side back into the game and eventually led to their equalising goal.

Young Derek McWilliams, in only his second first team game, made an immediate impression as a replacement for Willie Murray and gave Bankies such problems that skipper Jim Fallon was booked for a foul on him seconds before Rodier tied the game at 1-1.

Ally Brazil found Stuart Turnbull free and the full-back's pass left the young striker with an easy chance to beat Gallacher.

Bankies need not feel too disappointed at dropping a point, for the game meant nothing to them after two defeats last week. Their performance, however, and those in the next two games, against Airdrie and Rangers, gives a pointer to the demanding league programme. Results so far haven't left them on the canvas, nor have they given them false hopes and the young side must be in a good frame of mind for the championship opener at home to Raith Rovers.

Certainly the boos and cat-calls which rang in Bertie Auld's ears on this damp Edinburgh evening did them no justice whatsoever.