Partick Thistle 0 Hibernian 3

19th October 2002
Scottish Premier League
Attendance:

Scorers:
Hibernian: O'Connor (2), Paatelainen.

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotland on Sunday on Sunday 20th October 2002

O'Connor shows that he's no fool in action

AS Forrest Gump’s mother said, life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get. So it is with Hibs’s idiot-savant Garry O’Connor.

More often than not he appears to be a gormless, callow youth blundering around the park, as much laughed at as berated, even by his own supporters. Then he goes and pulls something of exquisite quality out of the bag.

He had even been irritating neutrals in the press box throughout the first half as he ran into defenders rather than space, even although he had one of the cannier old pros in the game Mixu Paatelainen patiently trying to set him on the road to goal. Instead O’Connor spent considerable time on his ample backside complaining about Thistle’s vigorous defence.

However, his manager Bobby Williamson looked more annoyed with the striker than the referee, and it was odds on a rollicking awaited at half time. But with two minutes to go O’Connor stopped the ball 30 yards from goal, shrugging off Scott Paterson, not pausing to think - always a plus in his case - he span round to launch a tremendous shot into the top right hand corner, leaving Kenny Arthur in Thistle goal with no chance whatsoever.

It proved the vital breakthrough that was to give Hibs their fourth win in a row in the league. Bobby Williamson seems to be beginning to turn round the tanker at Easter Road and the hard to please Hibernian fans who only a month ago were absurdly enough chanting for the return of Frank Sauzee were singing his name as they poured out into the streets of Maryhill at the final whistle.

Meanwhile Thistle have already been branded with that old cliché "draw specialists" it is more often than not a euphemism for a side that lacks inspiration or creativity and it certainly showed yesterday. John Lambie’s side have drawn five games and while they had been unable to win at Firhill until Hibs visit yesterday only Celtic had beaten them there.

A doughty side they aren’t easy to play against with Paterson, Stephen Craigan and Derek Whyte a physically uncompromising back three. Meanwhile in the first half yesterday their busy midfield of Jamie Buchan, Martin Hardie and Jamie Mitchell did have the better of their sluggish opponents with midweek international duty obviously having sapped Ian Murray and Jarkko Wiss. While Grant Brebner was as ever an enigma in as much as no one can remember the last time he had a good game for the full 90 minutes.

Fortunately for Hibs Williamson’s tinkering with his defence is paying dividends, with Derek Townsley once again solid its centre. However it was Hibs's Frenchman Yannick Zambernardi who was a crucial component yesterday on exemplary form anticipating, challenging and quickly passing out of defence- and finding his man- something Paul Fenwick was significantly unable to do on the right.

Zambernardi also has the bonus of looking good on the ball something appreciated by the ladies of Leith. But he was to reveal an uglier side in the second half when he almost hospitalised Whyte.

However crucially he saved Hibs from going behind in the eighth minute when Hardie sent Alan Archibald through on goal. After his double against Hearts Archibald must have felt confident, but Nick Colgan managed to get a hand to the ball only for it to tantalisingly drift across goal. Scott McLean should have buried it as he zoned in on the goalmouth but somehow Zambernardi stretched out to manage the block, with the ball ricocheting off the Thistle forward and past the post.

Effectively that was to be Thistle’s best chance of the game and they were to pay for it although some erratic defending by Hibs in the second half almost let them back into the match. Nick Colgan was particularly to blame when he was caught in possession outside his own box. But on that occasion substitute Paul Walker failed to take advantage, as the ball ran out of the box Zambernardi took a wild lunge at it to clear and it was just as well Whyte managed to move out of the way in time.

The Frenchman was lucky to receive a caution but having weathered that aberration the Hibs defence never looked back, even when Townsley was taken off concussed in the 71st minute.

Gary Smith settled in quickly and Hibs were content to hit Thistle on the counter attack. Debutant Craig James had a nervy start to the second half, but when he broke clear on the left in the 81st, his cross was pinpoint perfection for Paatelainen to glide in and meet with a header on the six yard box.

Hibs were now in quality street and O’Connor’s third was a delicious bit of skill as two minutes from time he chipped Craigan, rounded the defender and volleyed gently with his right foot past Arthur.

As the game drifted into added on time O'Connor even had the audacity to hit the post this time with his left but a hat-trick would have been gluttony.

HOME