1996–97 Hibernian F.C. season

Season 1996–97 was difficult for Hibs, as the club finished ninth in the Premier Division and only avoided relegation to the First Division by winning a playoff against Airdrie. There was also disappointment in the cup competitions, as the club were beaten by Celtic in the Scottish Cup, and Rangers in the League Cup. Manager Alex Miller was sacked in late September and replaced temporarily by Jocky Scott, before Jim Duffy took charge.

Hibernian
1996–97 season
ManagerAlex Miller (until 30 September)[1]
Jocky Scott (30 September – 30 December)[1]
Jim Duffy (from 30 December)[1]
Premier Division9th
Scottish CupR4
League CupQF
Highest home attendance15749[2]
Lowest home attendance7332[2]
Average home league attendance10561[2] (up 667)

League season

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Results

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10 August 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 1–2 Kilmarnock Easter Road, Edinburgh
Weir   28' Mitchell   20'
Henry   26'
24 August 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 0–0 Dunfermline Athletic Easter Road, Edinburgh
7 September 1996 Premier Division Celtic 5–0 Hibernian Celtic Park, Glasgow
McGinlay   4' (o.g.)
Cadete   14', 45'
O'Neil   51'
van Hooijdonk   72'
Attendance: 47,042
14 September 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 1–0 Raith Rovers Easter Road, Edinburgh
Kirk   54' (o.g.) Attendance: 8,671
Referee: D. W. Smith
21 September 1996 Premier Division Aberdeen 0–2 Hibernian Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Jackson   44'
Wright   68'
Attendance: 12,500
28 September 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 1–3 Heart of Midlothian Easter Road, Edinburgh
Jackson   57' (pen.) Cameron   19', 30'
Robertson   40'
Attendance: 14,746
12 October 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 2–1 Rangers Easter Road, Edinburgh
Jackson   58'
Donald   62'
Albertz   9' Attendance: 12,864
19 October 1996 Premier Division Motherwell 1–1 Hibernian Fir Park, Motherwell
McSkimming   73' Harper   7' Attendance: 6,784
26 October 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 0–4 Celtic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Thom   31', 74'
van Hooijdonk   61'
Donnelly   77'
Attendance: 14,135
1 November 1996 Premier Division Kilmarnock 4–2 Hibernian Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
Henry   17'
McIntyre   24'
Wright   52'
McGinlay   56' (o.g.)
Harper   21'
Dow   31'
Attendance: 10,872
16 November 1996 Premier Division Heart of Midlothian 0–0 Hibernian Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 15,129
23 November 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 0–1 Aberdeen Easter Road, Edinburgh
Windass   44' Attendance: 11,522
30 November 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 2–0 Motherwell Easter Road, Edinburgh
Jackson   35', 90' (pen.) Attendance: 7,332
7 December 1996 Premier Division Rangers 4–3 Hibernian Ibrox Park, Glasgow
Ferguson   34'
McCoist   71', 74'
Laudrup   83'
Wright   21'
Jackson   41'
McGinlay   86'
Attendance: 48,053
14 December 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 1–1 Dundee United Easter Road, Edinburgh
Harper   20' McLaren   44' (pen.) Attendance: 8,250
21 December 1996 Premier Division Raith Rovers 0–3 Hibernian Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
Jackson   61', 79'
McGinlay   67'
Attendance: 4,224
26 December 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 0–1 Kilmarnock Easter Road, Edinburgh
McIntyre   42' Attendance: 8,957
28 December 1996 Premier Division Aberdeen 1–1 Hibernian Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Shearer   90' Jackson   14' Attendance: 10,000
1 January 1997 Premier Division Hibernian 0–4 Heart of Midlothian Easter Road, Edinburgh
Robertson   33'
Hamilton   62', 87'
Cameron   65'
Attendance: 15,826
4 January 1997 Premier Division Hibernian 1–2 Rangers Easter Road, Edinburgh
Harper   7' Andersen   11'
Albertz   72' (pen.)
Attendance: 12,650
11 January 1997 Premier Division Motherwell 2–1 Hibernian Fir Park, Motherwell
McSkimming   20'
Hunter   24' (o.g.)
Dow   49' Attendance: 5,855
18 January 1997 Premier Division Celtic 4–1 Hibernian Celtic Park, Glasgow
van Hooijdonk   21', 48'
McLaughlin   42'
Cadete   68'
Harper   63' Attendance: 49,092
1 February 1997 Premier Division Hibernian 1–1 Raith Rovers Easter Road, Edinburgh
Kirkwood   13' (o.g.) Lennon   69' Attendance: 9,424
23 February 1997 Premier Division Rangers 3–1 Hibernian Ibrox Park, Glasgow
Gough   3'
Albertz   49' (pen.)
Laudrup   68'
Dennis   54' Attendance: 48,070
1 March 1997 Premier Division Hibernian 1–1 Motherwell Easter Road, Edinburgh
Wright   51' Coyne   64' Attendance: 8,328
8 March 1997 Premier Division Hibernian 1–0 Dunfermline Athletic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Wright   11'
15 March 1997 Premier Division Heart of Midlothian 1–0 Hibernian Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh
McCann   82' Attendance: 15,136
22 March 1997 Premier Division Hibernian 3–1 Aberdeen Easter Road, Edinburgh
McGinlay   6', 57'
Tosh   72'
Craig   53' Attendance: 9,669
5 April 1997 Premier Division Hibernian 2–0 Dundee United Easter Road, Edinburgh
Charnley   73' (pen.)
McGinlay   78'
Attendance: 11,010
19 April 1997 Premier Division Kilmarnock 1–1 Hibernian Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
Wright   14' Montgomerie   45' (o.g.) Attendance: 10,886
4 May 1997 Premier Division Hibernian 1–3 Celtic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Power   35' Cadete   12', 65'
di Canio   43'
Attendance: 10,603

Final table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
6 Aberdeen 36 10 14 12 45 54 −9 44
7 Kilmarnock 36 11 6 19 41 61 −20 39 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup qualifying round[a]
8 Motherwell 36 9 11 16 44 55 −11 38
9 Hibernian (O) 36 9 11 16 38 55 −17 38 Qualification for the Play-off
10 Raith Rovers (R) 36 6 7 23 29 73 −44 25 Relegation to the First Division
Source: Soccerbase
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Kilmarnock qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as the winners of the Scottish Cup.

Play-offs

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Having finished ninth in the Scottish Premier Division, Hibs then had to contest a relegation / promotion play-off with Airdrie, who had finished second in the 1996–97 Scottish First Division. Hibs won 1–0 at Easter Road and 4–2 at Broadwood Stadium to retain their place in the Premier Division, with a 5–2 aggregate victory.[3]

Results
17 May 1997 Play-off first leg Hibernian 1–0 Airdrieonians Easter Road, Edinburgh
Attendance: 15,308
Referee: McCluskey
22 May 1997 Play-off second leg Airdrieonians 2–4 Hibernian Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
Attendance: 6,275

Scottish League Cup

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Hibs reached the quarter-finals thanks to two wins against lower division opposition, but then lost 4–0 to eventual winners Rangers.

Results

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18 September 1996 Scottish League Cup Rangers 4–0 Hibernian Ibrox Park, Glasgow
Durie   29'
van Vossen   47', 80'
Albertz   89'
Attendance: 45,104
Referee: McCluskey

Scottish Cup

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Hibs defeated Aberdeen after a penalty shootout in third round, but then lost in a fourth round replay to Celtic.

Results

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23 January 1997 Scottish Cup Hibernian 2–2 Aberdeen Easter Road, Edinburgh
Miller   48'
McGinlay   78'
Booth   70'
Dodds   75'
Attendance: 9,588
28 January 1997 Scottish Cup Aberdeen 0–0 AET
(3 – 5 PSO)
Hibernian Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Attendance: 15,500
17 February 1997 Scottish Cup Hibernian 1–1 Celtic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Jackson   83' O'Donnell   16' Attendance: 16,000
26 February 1997 Scottish Cup Celtic 2–0 Hibernian Celtic Park, Glasgow
O'Donnell   35'
di Canio   54'
Attendance: 46,424

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Manager History for Hibernian". Soccerbase. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Average Home League Game Attendances". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Airdrie captain sent off as Hibs secure premier division status". The Herald. 23 May 1997. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
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