Middlesbrough 3-2 Hibernian: Fletcher finally finds net

Hibernian 2

Fletcher 8; 60

Middlesbrough 3

Alves 65; 72; Wheater 70

HIBS played their part in this highly entertaining friendly fixture at Easter Road yesterday, but were beaten by a three goals in seven minutes spell after taking a deserved lead against the English Premiership team. Both goals by the home team were scored by Steven Fletcher, and the Hibs fans will be hoping no moneybags clubs were watching yet another impressive performance by the most marketable player in Leith. "I thought I'd better knuckle down and start scoring or I'd end up on the bench," said Fletcher.

Hibs had not scored a goal in their pre-season matches but their supporters in the sparse crowd did not have to wait long. Fletcher had looked keen and sharp, and Colin Nish, his striking partner, was also eager to be involved. After nine minutes, Nish came to the right wing then adroitly turned inside on to his left foot and sent in a sumptuous pinpoint cross to the head of Fletcher in the middle of a sleeping defence. He powered his header high past the despairing clutches of Ross Turnbull. Middlesbrough came back immediately and Andrew McNeil had to look sharp to save low down from Jeremie Aliadiere.

A friendly it may have been, but there was no shirking of tackles, the best of which was a goal-saving effort deep in the box on Mido by captain Rob Jones. A fine move by Hibs then deserved a goal, though it was not forthcoming. Ian Murray crossed from left to right, Nish headed down and David Van Zanten hit the ball on the run but shot over the bar.

At the other end, Mido missed the proverbial sitter off Aliadiere's cross, heading fresh air instead of the ball. It is never a pleasant sight to see a player injured, especially so in a friendly. Julio Arca seemed to catch his studs in the lush turf after an innocuous challenge by Joe Keenan. He was stretchered off with an ankle injury.

Keenan and his fellow debutante Steven Thicot were particularly impressive yesterday and look to be good additions to Mixu Paatelainen's squad. Keenan in particular is a tricky playmaker and could be an important factor once he is up to SPL speed.

Hibs tried to play neat passing football and were almost rewarded when Dean Shiels crossed to the far post where Jones sent in a header for Murray who was clear in front of goal. Turnbull somehow palmed the ball away but it went straight to the head of Nish who failed to steer his reaction header into the net. Middlesbrough then enjoyed a spell of pressure, and after 35 minutes England international Luke Young lashed in a left foot shot which cannoned off McNeil's bar. Play rapidly switched to the other end where Shiels shot narrowly past from 16 yards. Middlesbrough almost equalised early in the second half when Stewart Downing blasted a shot from 20 yards which scraped the paint off McNeil's left upright. Substitute Didier Digard then did the same to McNeil's other post.

Hibs sent on a 'trialist' and this French gentleman did well. It was Monsieur Le Trialist's pass to Fletcher which gave the striker enough room to let fly from 30 yards, his swerving shot beating Turnbull low down on the right of goal after an hour.

Five minutes later, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate sent on Alfonso Alves for the ineffective Tuncay, and was rewarded immediately when Alves found space in the Hibs box to power home a header with his first touch of the ball.

In 70 minutes, the Hibs defence was caught napping when Johnson fired in a corner which the lanky David Wheater did not even have to leap to connect with.

The clinching goal again owed much to Southgate's aptitude with substitutions. He sent on Rhys Williams for Young after 72 minutes, and with his first touch of the ball Williams fired in a fierce free kick which Alves bulleted past McNeil.

Hibs went in search of the equaliser and Jones, Nish and Le Trialist were all unlucky with efforts, two poor Fletcher shots being the product of tired legs. Middlesbrough held out for victory, though Digard had to resort to fouling Le Trialist and was booked for his pains.

Afterwards, Paatelainen had a real go at newspapers which had printed reports that he had said Brian Kerr – absent again yesterday – was not good enough for Hibs. "Brian Kerr is a fantastic professional, and I would never say that. Phone me and get the facts right," said the manager. Yet Paatelainen steadfastly refused to give out the name of the trialist, despite 6,300 spectators, at least two camera crews and plenty press seeing the man.

"You might see it as stupid but I would like to leave it as it is," said Paatelainen. Can't have it both ways, Mixu. How can newspapers report facts if they are denied access to simple information such as a player's name? Daft, just daft.

Hibernian: McNeil, Van Zanten, Murray, Hogg, Jones, Thicot, Keenan, Shiels, Fletcher, Nish, O'Brien. Subs: Grof, Chisholm, Canning, Stevenson, Moris, Campbell, Trialist.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Young, Grounds, Huth, Wheater, Aliadiere, Arca, O'Neil, Mido, Tuncay, Downing. Subs: Steele, Alves, Johnson, Williams, Walker, Bennett, Digard.

Referee: W Collum.