Hibs deserved to win group says manager

Hibernian booked their place in the knockout stages of the Scottish League Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Alloa Athletic.

A first-half opener from youngster Fraser Murray and a second-half double from Simon Murray ensured the Easter Road outfit progressed as winners in Group D.

Manager Neil Lennon also handed debuts to Lithuanian pair Vykintas Slivka and Deivydas Matulevicius as they cruised to victory against their League One hosts.

Martin Boyle had already tested home keeper Neil Parry by the time the top-flight visitors made a 15th-minute breakthrough.

Boyle was involved again, slipping a pass to Simon Murray and the striker's low centre was fired into the net by his younger namesake, Fraser.

Alan Cook came close to an instant equaliser for Alloa but his low drive was deflected inches past the post, and just short of the half-hour mark Jon Robertson's 25-yard effort whistled over.

Hibs then settled back into a rhythm and Parry denied Fraser Murray a second five minutes from half-time as the youngster tried to chip him from the left side of the box.

The second half began tamely but the visitors were always in command and doubled their lead in the 64th minute.

Fraser Murray sparked a quick counter-attack and fed Boyle on his outside. The winger's low cross was bundled in by Simon Murray from close range.

The summer signing then added a third 10 minutes from time to make it seven goals in four Betfred Cup games. Boyle swung in a cross from the left and former Dundee United marksman Simon Murray bulleted a header in off the post to round off a pleasing win.

Lennon, whose men defeated Arbroath 6-1 on Tuesday night, reckons the win was the ideal preparation for their return to the Premiership against Partick Thistle next Saturday.

He said: It's a bonus. We didn't expect to win the group but I think we deserved it because we've played really good football in all the games.

I'm delighted to get through to the knockout rounds, which was important. I'm very pleased. It was important to win the game and we've won it in convincing fashion.

It's another game under the players' belts. We're scoring goals and keeping clean sheets.

We've got players who can make a difference in the final third and we're showing that at the minute.''

The two Murrays grabbed the attention with the goals, but Lennon singled out winger Martin Boyle for special praise.

He added: Simon's scoring goals. There's still a lot of work in Simon in terms of his all-round play. But he's scoring goals and the second goal is a great goal.

He got another tap-in but I think he owes a lot to Boyle, who is playing fantastically well and taken his game on to another level.''

It was a third defeat in four Betfred Cup games for Alloa, but manager Jim Goodwin was heartened by an improved display from his players after their midweek defeat to Montrose.

He said: To lose the game 3-0 is disappointing but in terms of how we played, overall it was quite pleasing.

We were really poor on Tuesday night and we asked for a reaction, and I think we got it.'