Lichties upset still hurts smith

IT may be almost 30 years since Hibs and Arbroath last clashed in the Scottish Cup - but former Easter Road star Bobby Smith still winces at the memory of the tie.

Having salvaged a 1-1 draw at Gayfield Park, John Blackley cancelling out Tommy Yule's strike for the Red Lichties, Hibs went into the replay four days later firm favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals where a home tie against either Aberdeen or Dundee awaited them. And a place in the last eight looked nothing more than a formality when Ally MacLeod put Eddie Turnbull's side ahead after only five minutes after Arbroath goalkeeper Gordon Marshall - the father of Hibs' present day goalkeeping coach - failed to clear a long throw-in from Erich Schaedler.

Marshall, back behind the counter at his newsagent's shop in the West End of Edinburgh the following morning, put the goal down to nothing less than "sheer carelessness" on his part.

But his self-reproachment was short-lived as a Yule cross was deflected into his own net by Hibs defender George Stewart before John Fletcher stunned the Easter Road crowd by scoring a second just two minutes later.

Smith recalled: "Having earned a draw at Gayfield Park we were strong favourites to win the replay at Easter Road.

"Everyone expected us to win and when Ally scored so early in the game it looked certain that we would. But we didn't play at all well that night, it was a very poor game from our point of view.

"As in every game you need a second goal and to Arbroath's credit they kept plugging away and while they played quite well I think we were quite happy with our lead.

"But two goals in as many minutes changed the whole course of the game and we were out of the Cup. It wasn't a night to remember and I think all of us who played for Hibs that night still wince at the memory of it."

Smith, who attends matches at Easter Road as a member of Hibs Former Players' Association, firmly believes that Tony Mowbray's side will have little difficulty in disposing with their Third Division visitors on Saturday.

However, he stressed their could be no room for complacency, citing how Hibs had players such as Arthur Duncan, Alex Edwards, John Blackley, Erich Schaedler, MacLeod, Stewart and himself in the side early in 1977.

He said: "I cannot see Hibs failing this weekend. If they go about the match in a professional manner as I believe they will then there shouldn't be a problem.

"However, the danger of a Cup upset always exists. A club from a lower league has nothing to lose and coming to Easter Road will be a big day for many of the Arbroath players. I can remember playing with Leicester City when we drew 1-1 at Filbert Street against Harlow Town in the FA Cup and then lost the replay at their place 1-0.

"And that was a Leicester team which contained the likes of Gary Lineker. It was a big, big upset and the only time I'd ever seen Jock Wallace, our manager, speechless.

"Football is littered with Cup upsets and, while Arbroath will be hoping to cause another one, I am sure Hibs will prove to be too good a side for that to happen."

Smith conceded, though, that ex-Hibs players Chris Jackson and Greg Miller, son of former Easter Road boss Alex, will have that little extra incentive as they return to their old club.

Recalling how Jackson came back to haunt Hibs, scoring the winner in a Scottish Cup replay for Stirling Albion after being released by ex-manager Alex McLeish, Smith said: "Both of them will want to really show what they can do back on their old stomping ground."

Alan Brazil, son of former Hibs star Ally, is also on Arbroath's books but the 20-year-old striker is certain to miss the match through suspension having been sent off during Monday's Angus derby with Montrose, his hopes of an appeal virtually non-existent as there is no video evidence to back his claim that the clash which led to his red card was purely accidental.

Smith said: "There's certainly a few connections between the clubs and that will add a wee bit more to the game for the Arbroath lads who have those ties although it's a pity for young Brazil that he won't get the chance to play."

While accepting that such ties always present a potential banana skin for top clubs, Smith, a team-mate at Leicester of Hibs assistant manager Mark Venus, believes his old pal and Mowbray will have spelled out the dangers of not treating Arbroath with the respect they deserve to their young stars.

He said: "I know Mark well and I am sure he and Tony will have the players well aware of what is expected of them.

"The pair of them have done a remarkable job since arriving at Easter Road and on Saturday I can't foresee anything but a good win for Hibs. I've seen a few games this season and the likes of Kevin Thomson, Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker have really impressed me while Derek Riordan and Garry O'Connor up-front can score goals against any side in the country.

"Arbroath, of course, will give it their best shot but I think class will tell in the end and if Hibs do a thoroughly professional job as I would expect then, while they might not get the nine goals they did against Montrose in the CIS Cup a couple of years ago, I'd imagine they'll win reasonably comfortably."

Saturday's match will be refereed by William Collom while the SFA have stated that in the event of the game being postponed, it will take place on Tuesday at Easter Road, kick-off 7.45pm.

And if a replay is needed it will be played at Gayfield Park on Tuesday, January 17, kick-off again 7.45pm.