Hibs 100% start to the season ended with a 3-1 home defeat to Hamilton at Easter Road this afternoon.
Neil Lennon made one change to the stating XI that beat Rangers at Ibrox last Saturday, with Danny Swanson replacing goal scorer Vykintas Slivka in midfield.
New on loan signing Brandon Barker was listed amongst the substitutes.
After a slow start from both teams, Simon Murray had the first chance but he miscued a free header from Swanson’s corner and the ball flew past the post
From then it was one way traffic with Hibs bombarding the Accies’ goal although Hamilton always looked dangerous on the break.
Swanson almost grabbed the opener but Gary Woods did well to tip his 30 yard strike round the post.
Paul Hanlon then set up Murray but his effort was weak and easily saved.
Steven Whittaker then set up Murray with a fine through ball but once again Woods produced a superb save to deny the on-form striker.
Whittaker tried his luck from the edge of the area but his shot was deflected narrowly wide.
Anthony Stokes was next to try his luck but like his effort was also deflected for a corner.
Hibs had a penalty claim denied in the 42nd minute when Stokes was held back by a Hamilton defender but the referee waved play on.
The last action of the first half came from Accies on the break and Ofir Marciano produced a fingertip save to deny Ali Crawford.
The second half belonged to Hamilton and they started brightly with three successive corners, all of which looked dangerous.
The visitors took the lead in controversial circumstances in the 51st minute when Greg Docherty went down at the edge of the area following a challenge by Darren McGregor and referee Steven McLean hesitated before pointing to the spot.
Rakish Bingham fired home the resultant penalty kick to the delight of the small band of travelling supporters.
Lennon then replaced Swanson with Barker as Hibs pressed for an equaliser then five minutes later Slivka replaced Darren McGregor.
Hamilton substitute Louis Longridge then struck the bar before the Lanarkshire side doubled their advantage after a mistake by Paul Hanlon allowed Longridge a free shot from 15 yards which he dispatched into the corner of the net.
Hamilton were content to defend and hit on the break and this tactic paid dividends when they added a third with three minutes remaining after some fantastic one touch passing which ended when Bingham slotted home his second of the day.
Hibs grabbed a consolation goal in injury time after John McGinn broke from his own half then found Matulevicius who set up Stokes and the Irishman fired the ball past Woods.
After the game Lennon said: “We didn’t deserve to win. I thought there was a flatness about us today. the better team won.”
Hibs: Marciano, Whittaker, Hanlon, McGinn, McGeouch, Swanson, S.Murray, Stevenson, McGregor, Ambrose, Stokes. Subs: Laidlaw, Gray, Fontaine, Slivka, Matulevicius, Barker, F.Murray
Hamilton: Woods, Skondras, McMann, Tomas, Imrie, Docherty, Bingham, Crawford, Mackinnon, Boyd, Sarris. Subs: Jamieson, Gillespie, Redmond, Gogi, Templeton, Longridge, Lyon
Referee Steven McLean
Attendance 16,633
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
