1996–97 Hibernian F.C. season

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)

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.

League season

Results

10 August 1996 Premier Division Hibernian 1–2 Kilmarnock Easter Road, Edinburgh
Weir 28' Mitchell 20'
Henry 26'
17 August 1996 Premier Division Dundee United 0–1 Hibernian Tannadice Park, Dundee
McAllister 30' Attendance: 8,589
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
11 December 1996 Premier Division Dunfermline Athletic 2–1 Hibernian East End Park, Dunfermline
Millar 63'
Ireland 82'		 Jackson 74' Attendance: 5,295
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
8 February 1997 Premier Division Dundee United 0–0 Hibernian Tannadice Park, Dundee
Attendance: 9,219
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
12 April 1997 Premier Division Dunfermline Athletic 1–1 Hibernian East End Park, Dunfermline
Britton 11' Jackson 31' Attendance: 8,752
Referee: McCluskey
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
10 May 1997 Premier Division Raith Rovers 1–1 Hibernian Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
Duffield 7' McGinlay 26' Attendance: 6,275

Final table

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

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

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

Results

13 August 1996 Scottish League Cup Brechin City 0–2 Hibernian Glebe Park, Brechin
Lavety 39'
Dow 58'
3 September 1996 Scottish League Cup Albion Rovers 0–2 Hibernian Cliftonhill, Coatbridge
Wright 18'
McGinlay 72'
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

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

Results

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

References

  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.