Hibernian 3 Partick Thistle 1
Hibs get off to a winning start on their top flight return
Last updated 5th Aug 2017
Hibernian quickly adapted to life back in the Ladbrokes Premiership as they came from behind to record a 3-1 opening day win over Partick Thistle at Easter Road.
Chris Erskine capped an impressive start for the visitors with an early goal but the lead only lasted seven minutes before Martin Boyle levelled.
Hibs took control and Steven Whittaker and Simon Murray, from the penalty spot, netted either side of the break.
The comfortable win against a side who finished in the top six last season indicated Hibs will quickly make their mark on the top flight following a three-year absence.
Easter Road chairman Rod Petrie took centre stage before the game to unfurl the Championship flag but Thistle threatened to gatecrash the party. Alan Archibald's side bossed possession in the early stages before going ahead in the seventh minute when Erskine found the far corner after Steven Lawless had threaded him into the left channel.
But Hibs soon found their feet. Murray had a shot saved before Boyle swept home the equaliser after John McGinn's through-ball, intended for Murray, ricocheted kindly into the winger's path.
Hibs were pressing Thistle into mistakes deep in the visitors' half and Whittaker forced another save from Tomas Cerny.
The Jags lost Kris Doolan to injury before the half-hour mark as Kevin Nisbet came on and the Premiership newcomers took the lead in the 33rd minute after breaking down the left.
Danny Swanson played a one-two with Dylan McGeouch and had time to pick out the untracked run of Whittaker, who guided the ball into the corner of the net with the outside of his right foot.
Summer signing Swanson had a 20-yard strike saved after the break and Hibs went further ahead in the 52nd minute after referee Nick Walsh pointed to the spot.
Former Hibs left-back Callum Booth had no complaints after Boyle got in front of him to run on to McGinn's backheeled return pass and went down just inside the box. Murray sent Cerny the wrong way from the spot.
Thistle looked down and out but they briefly came back into it and Ofir Marciano made a couple of saves before the visitors had a strong penalty claim denied when McGeouch appeared to push Christie Elliott at the far post.
New signing Anthony Stokes began his third spell as a Hibs player in the 70th minute and the hosts saw the final stages out without concern.