Hibee History: Dean Shiels scores a hat-trick to kick off Mixu Paatelainen's reign
Dean Shiels netted a hat-trick to give new Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen a winning start in the Scottish Cup.
Shiels bamboozled Ross Tokely after five minutes, with some fancy footwork and then slammed the ball home from 14 yards.
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Hide AdMore good work from Shiels allowed him to nutmeg Phil McGuire and drill the ball under Michael Fraser on 53 minutes.
Shiels tucked in his third when a shot from Filpe Morais came off the post but the game ended on an ugly note with McGuire and Morais sent off.
Paatelainen selected an attacking line-up for his first match in charge and was rewarded with an excellent display, full of crisp passing football with invention.
Injuries to defenders David Murphy and Lewis Stevenson meant a debut for left-back Paul Hanlon and the youngster did not have much to do in the hour he played as the visitors struggled to get forward.
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Hide AdAfter a bright start from Inverness, Hibs took control of the game after Shiels opened the scoring with a fine run and shot. The effervescent Merouane Zemmama then had two shots saved by Michael Fraser, and fellow Moroccan Abdessalam Benjelloun curled an effort just wide of the target.
Inverness had a chance to level after Roy McBain’s cross fell at the feet of Marius Niculae but the Romanian’s stab at the ball from close range was gathered by Yves Ma-Kalambay.
Shiels caught the visitors out again early in the second half when he tricked his way past McGuire and hit the ball into the net.
A fizzed low effort from Morais flew just wide before Niculae’s deflected shot was saved by Ma-Kalambay.
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Hide AdHibs substitute Mickael Antoine-Curier somehow headed over an empty goal from a few yards out.
But the home team were not to be denied and, with seven minutes left, Shiels got his hat-trick after picking up the rebound to Morais’ shot which struck the post.
The tie ended with McGuire and Morais both picking up their second yellow cards for squaring up to each other off the ball.
Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, McCann, Hogg, Jones, Hanlon (McCormack 62), Morais, Kerr, Beuzelin, Shiels, Zemmama (O’Brien 90), Benjelloun (Antoine-Curier 74). Subs Not Used: McNeil, Chisholm.
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Hide AdInverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, McGuire, Munro, Hastings, Cowie (Proctor 61), Black (McDonald 85), Duncan, McBain, Bayne (Wyness 62), Niculae. Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Vigurs.
Ref: S Conroy.
Att: 12,578.