| 1996–97 season | |
|---|---|
| Manager | Alex Miller (until 30 September)[1] Jocky Scott (30 September – 30 December)[1] Jim Duffy (from 30 December)[1] | 
| Premier Division | 9th | 
| Scottish Cup | R4 | 
| League Cup | QF | 
| Highest home attendance | 15749[2] | 
| Lowest home attendance | 7332[2] | 
| Average home league attendance | 10561[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[lower-alpha 1] | 
| 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 | 
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ↑ 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 2 3 "Manager History for Hibernian". Soccerbase. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- 1 2 3 "Average Home League Game Attendances". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ↑ "Airdrie captain sent off as Hibs secure premier division status". The Herald. 23 May 1997. Retrieved 15 August 2017.