Hundreds watch Hibs star Martin Boyle lose comfortably in FIFA20 contest with noted YouTuber

Winger was beaten 3-0 after controversial call not to start himself

Martin Boyle could only laugh as his Hibs FIFA20 side were expertly dismantled by Millwall on Monday afternoon.

The Hibs winger was taking on YouTuber Zerkaa - real name Joshua Bradley - in a hotly anticipated contest between professional player and professional gamer.

Zerkaa has 1.5 million followers on Twitter and several hundred of them, along with a number of supportive Hibs fans, tuned in via a Twitch link shared by Boyle on his social media channels.

Hibs winger Martin Boyle. Picture: SNS

They watched as the Australian international warmed himself up with some shooting drills before getting to the game itself.

He made Paul McGinn captain on the request of his brother, and ex-Hibs star, John, who was one of those watching on.

The Aberdonian opted for a narrow 4-4-2 diamond formation, a system which, according to Boyle, "didn't leave any room" to pick himself.

It was a decision he'd later come to regret as Millwall battered Hibs in the early going, having a goal disallowed for offside and hitting the post before taking the lead in the 18th minute.

Prior to the goal, Boyle was heard to comment: "[Vykintas] Slivka, that's no good enough at this level son."

He followed up that threat by hooking the Lithuanian along with Stevie Mallan. In their place came Boyle's virtual self and Scott Allan, changing the formation into a 4-2-4 as he quickly went for broke.

It almost paid off with Christian Doidge making a meal of a back-post header after being set up by Boyle. ""DOIDGEY! OH NO!" the 26-year-old was heard to shout.

It would quickly go from bad to worse with Zerkaa's side making it 2-0 with his very next attack.

Another good Hibs chance was squandered before the break. Boyle then ended the half by laughing maniacally when McNulty shanked a half-chance 20 yards wide.

The game was finished as a contest on 64 minutes as Millwall completed the scoring. Boyle wasn't happy with the effort of one of his virtual team-mates.

"Paul Hanlon's got to go. He's got to go. Bullied," the ex-Dundee attacker lamented. "That goal came from an overhead kick clearance!"

Hibs had a little late pressure as they sought to make the scoreline more respectable, but couldn't force a couple of opportunities over the line.

Despite the 3-0 defeat, Boyle was still in a positive mood after the match.

"I expected worse than that. I'm buzzing. I'm happy," he finished by saying.