Hibernian 3-1 Gretna

Rob Jones' header gave Hibs the lead against the run of play

Hibs survived a few early scares before running out convincing winners against First Division leaders Gretna.

The Easter Road side took the lead against the run of play after 28 minutes when Rob Jones rose headed home Scott Brown's cross from six yards.

Goalkeeper Greg Fleming then put the ball into his own net in the 53rd minute to give Hibs a two-goal cushion.

Substitute Abdessalam Benjelloun fired in a fantastic third goal, before Matthew Berkley's late consolation.

Michael Stewart missed out for Hibernian through illness, while Guillaume Beuzeilin dropped to the bench.

Ross Campbell and Sean Lynch were added to the first team for the visit of Gretna.

Gretna made three changes following their defeat to St Johnstone in the First Division last week.

Out went Alan Main, Brendan McGill and David Bingham; in came Fleming, Ryan McGuffie and Berkeley.

Gretna were the more threatening of the two sides in the opening stages, with Allan Jenkins, going close with a shot from 10 yards.

Ryan McGuffie then set up Colin McMenamin, but his effort was comfortably smothered by Hibernian goalkeeper Andrew McNeil.

Hibs went ahead when Jones rose highest at the back post to head home Brown's inch-perfect cross from six yards.

Once ahead, Hibs began to move the ball around with more purpose and Steven Fletcher passsed up two good chances before the interval.

Benjelloun, replaced Campbell at the start of the second half and Hibs looked more threatening.

The lead was increased when Ivan Sproule scurried down the right flank and fed the ball to the Moroccan striker inside the penalty box.

A tackle sent Benjelloun to the turf but he tenaciously won the ball back and managed to get back on his feet and fire in a shot.

The ball cannoned off the post and rebounded back into the net from the foot of the unfortunate Fleming.

Benjelloun and Fletcher then worked a neat one-two for the lively substitute to find the far corner of the net with a wonderful angled drive from 18 yards.

Berkley drilled in a late consolation for Gretna, but Hibs held on for a place in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup.

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Hibernian: McNeil, Whittaker, Jones, Martis, Murphy, Lynch, Scott Brown, Shiels (Beuzelin 61), Sproule, Fletcher (Stevenson 66), Campbell (Benjelloun 46). Subs Not Used: Simon Brown, McCann.

Booked: Scott Brown, Martis, Lynch.

Goals: Jones 28, Fleming 54 og, Benjelloun 59.

Gretna: Fleming, Barr, Grainger, Innes, Canning, Jenkins (O'Neil 89), Paarpalu, McGuffie, Berkeley, Graham, McMenamin (Grady 81). Subs Not Used: Mathieson, Nicholls, Skelton.

Booked: Paarpalu, Barr, McMenamin.

Goals: Berkeley 80.

Att: 14,075

Ref: I Brines