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

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
Source: Soccerbase
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(O) Play-off winner; (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. "Manager History for Hibernian". Soccerbase. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  2. "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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