Hibernian Edges Past Partick Thistle in Premier Sports Cup Clash

Owen Elding’s early strike was enough to drag Hibernian into the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup, but they were made to sweat every inch of the way by a stubborn, aggressive Partick Thistle in a tight 1-0 win.

Elding at the back post, Hibs on the front foot

Any fears of European hangover vanished almost immediately. Days after a gruelling trip to North Macedonia to see off Shkendija and reach the Conference League play-offs, David Gray’s side burst out of the blocks at Easter Road.

Fresh legs helped. Kanayo Megwa, Jack Iredale, Joe Newell and Jamie McGrath all came into the XI and Hibs could have been ahead inside five minutes. McGrath sliced Thistle open with a through ball, Elding tore in behind, but Liam McFarlane spread himself brilliantly to block with his legs.

That warning didn’t last long.

On 12 minutes, Iredale surged to the byline and whipped a wicked ball across the six-yard box. It skidded through bodies, begging for a touch. Elding arrived at the back post and did the simple part, prodding home his third goal of the season. Hibs had the start they wanted and, for a spell, looked ready to cruise.

They didn’t.

Missed chances keep Thistle alive

The early goal should have killed the tension. Instead, it framed the rest of the night. Hibs owned the territory, but every missed chance kept Thistle interested, and the tie on edge.

Oisin Smyth offered a reminder of the visitors’ threat when his shot deflected wide as Kris Doolan’s side hunted an equaliser, but most of the danger in the first half came at McFarlane’s end.

The on-loan Hearts goalkeeper turned in a superb display. He produced a stunning reflex stop to touch Elding’s close-range effort on to the bar, then, moments later, stuck out a boot to deny Nathan Lowe from inside the box. Each save tightened the screw. Hibs were on top, yet still only one in front.

That pattern rolled into the second half. Mayor drove forward and forced McFarlane into another sharp save at his near post. Hibs were still probing, still pushing for daylight. It never came.

On 58 minutes, Lowe picked out Elding with a raking pass that split Thistle’s back line. Elding was clear, one-on-one, but his touch got away from him. McFarlane dived bravely at his feet to smother, and when the loose ball broke to McGrath, his attempted chip dropped on to the roof of the net. Another chance gone. Another invitation for Thistle to believe.

VAR drama and a late Thistle surge

The turning point arrived midway through the half, and it nearly turned the tie on its head.

On 65 minutes, referee Duncan Nicolson pointed to the spot after Sebastian Drodz’s effort struck Newell inside the box. Thistle players surrounded the official, Hibs protested, and the stadium held its breath while VAR intervened. After a review, Nicolson reversed his decision, ruling the contact accidental. Hibs exhaled. Thistle fumed. The game crackled into its final phase.

From there, the Championship side threw everything at it.

Cale Loughrey stepped up with a fierce free-kick that Rafa Sallinger had to beat away. The Austrian goalkeeper then reacted sharply at his near post to get behind a driven effort from Smyth as Thistle swarmed forward.

Ben Stanway glanced a header wide from a promising position, the kind of chance that silences a home crowd in an instant. Ben Dempsey then forced Sallinger into another save at his near post, the Hibs keeper again standing firm with the tie wobbling.

Hibs never did find the second goal that would have settled the night. They didn’t play like a team running on empty, but they certainly finished like one hanging on.

It was raw, nervy and far from polished – yet Elding’s early tap-in and a defiant back line were enough. Hibs are in the quarter-finals. The question now is whether nights like this harden them for what’s coming, or hint at trouble when the stakes climb even higher.