Kieron Bowie is Hibs star man as blunder keeper redeems himself to put club on cusp of history

Kieron Bowie is Hibs star man as blunder keeper redeems himself to put club on cusp of history - five talking points

The Hibees survived a nervy fightback from Partizan Belgrade to set up a playoff with Legia Warsaw

Hibernian's Chris Cadden celebrates scoring in extra time (Image: SNS Group)

They came to the Boyle in Belgrade.

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And Hibs ensured the Gravediggers’ Conference League hopes were dead and Bowie-d as a new hero was born in Leith.

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Hitman Kieron Bowie slammed home a 40 yard worldie just as it looked like David Gray’s nerve-ridden side were in danger of chucking away a two goal first leg lead on their own turf.

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That should have been enough to win a titanic tie. But still Hibs found a way to have to go through extra time - even against 10-men following Nicola Simic’s second yellow card - before Chris Cadden’s strike finally finished off the Serbs off.

Hibs led 2-0 ahead of kick off thanks to Martin Boyle’s first leg double. But Milan Vukotic blasted Partizan - backed by a few hundred of their Gravedigger ultras - back into the tie on 17 minutes.

The midfielder picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and unleashed a strike that Jordan Smith could only help into the net.

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It got worse when Partizan doubled their lead a minute before the break.

It was another nightmare for Smith as Mario Jurcevic’s low cross caught Rocky Bushiri flat footed and Jovan Milosevic’s low effort squirmed under the keeper and just over the line.

It was going to take something special to spark Hibs back to life.

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Step forward Bowie in the 59th minute.

Kieron Bowie unleashes a screamer (Image: SNS Group)

Forty yards out with his back to goal, the big striker rolled Vanja Dragojevic and unleashed a first time half volley that flew over Marko Milosevic right into the top corner.

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It gave Easter Road lift-off. And three minute later Partizan appeared floored when Simic picked up a second yellow for clattering into Bowie.

But just as Smith appeared to have redeemed himself with three big saves in the closing stages sub Andrej Kostic slammed home a cross from the right with the last kick of five minutes of injury time.

It meant another exhausting 30 minutes of extra time. But HIbs had the extra man. And they made it count on 100 minutes when Chris Cadden slammed home after Josh Mulligan’s effort had been parried.

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Bowie star man

Wow. There’s only one place to start - with the goal that single handedly lifted Hibs off the canvas and blasted them into the play off. Kieron Bowie. Strength, awareness and quality to roll his man and hit a first time dipper from 40 yards right into the top corner almost in one movement was a thing of absolute beauty. This is a young man who has been touted as Scotland’s future number nine.

Kieron Bowie celebrates (Image: PA)

He looked every inch that on the big stage here. Apart from his goal, the big striker provides an obvious aerial threat and physical presence, Bowie’s control under pressure and link-up play shone through on a night where so much was going wrong for Gray’s side. On top of that the 22-year-old’s dog-like work rate will ensure he’s a favourite among the Leith faithful. But that goal will live long in Leith folklore.

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Cusp of history

David Gray has constantly challenged his players to make history. Last year it was record breaking unbeaten runs in the league. Now they stand on the verge of becoming the first HIbs side to make it to the group stage of a European competition. Legia Warsaw stand between them and that place in history in the play-off. One thing is for sure, they’ll need to be a heck of a lot tougher at the back after a first half where they were way to open and allowed Partizan to claw their way back into the tie with too much ease. But there’s a resilience to Gray’s side when the chips are down. This was another test of character. And thanks in no small part to Bowie - and a rocking Easter Road support - they came through to keep their Euro dream alive, even if Gray would surely have liked it to be less of a stress.

Number one question

Jordan Smith suffered a first half to forget between the sticks. Yet the keeper bounced back superbly. Slow to get across his goal before allowing Vukotic’s well-struck opener to sneak through his fingers, it got much worse a minute from the break when somehow Milosevic’s trundler squirmed under his body and only just made it over the line.

Blunder keeper Jordan Smith (Image: SNS Group)

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Question marks were already hovering over the former Stockport keeper after a nerve-ridden display against Kilmarnock at the weekend. Three big saves in the closing 10 minutes and another two in extra time definitely helped the keeper redeem himself.

Depth to prevail

David Gray shuffled his pack again in a bid to keep legs as fresh as possible for double dunting Thursday and Sundays. There were four changes to the side that drew with Kilmarnock at the weekend with main man Boyle back in along with Chris Cadden, Jack Iredale and Josh Mulligan. Just the one change from the side that delivered in Belgrade - that being Campbell coming in for Jamie McGrath - but the options Gray has at his disposal suggest Hibs are ready to tackle the gruelling double shift every week that has cost sides outside the Old Firm dearly in recent years.

Hibee shake

There was proper sunshine on Leith, a glow among the punters and even the disco lights got an outing ahead of kick off. There really is something special brewing down Easter Road way right now as Hibs continue to flourish under Gray in this their 150th year. A sell-out Euro night had the ground shaking ahead dog kick off, it really does bring the best out in the place and this was no exception. There was a danger the old toxicity might creep back in at half time. But HIbs fans stuck with their side and the reaction to Bowie’s wonder strike almost blew the rood off Easter Road.

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