Dunfermline Athletic manager Neil Lennon revealed he felt a Scottish Cup shock was brewing the moment he saw Hibernian's team sheet, before his Championship side delivered a dramatic 1-0 victory at East End Park.
A Tactical Glimpse Sparks Belief
The pivotal moment arrived deep into added time, when a shot from Dunfermline's Andy Tod took a decisive deflection off Hibs substitute Miguel Chaiwa and found the net. This own goal sent the Pars into the fifth round at the expense of their top-flight opponents. Lennon, who famously managed Hibs to promotion in 2017, admitted his spirits lifted upon learning counterpart David Gray had made several alterations to the side that faced Motherwell just days prior.
"I got a wee bit of a lift when I saw their team," Lennon confessed. "I thought they made a lot of changes. I thought this might work in our favour." He detailed his prediction to coaches with thirty minutes remaining, sensing a narrow 1-0 outcome was on the cards. "Thankfully for us it went our way," he added.
Pars Dig Deep for Famous Win
Lennon acknowledged his team's first-half performance was below par, but praised their resilience and improved positivity after the break. He singled out his defensive unit and goalkeeper as immense under pressure, a crucial factor in securing the clean sheet. When questioned if Gray had underestimated Dunfermline, Lennon diplomatically stated, "I'm not going to tell David what to do with his team."
For Dunfermline, who sit just three points off the Championship play-offs with a game in hand, this result is seen as a potential springboard. "It shows the potential that the club has," Lennon said, emphasising the increased profile the victory brings. "This is another incremental step in the right direction."
Hibs Boss Gray Accepts Responsibility
For Hibernian, it was a day of wasted opportunities and regret. Kieron Bowie and Thibault Klidje missed gilt-edged chances either side of half-time, but manager David Gray refused to blame his team selection, instead criticising the performance level.
"Every player that gets the opportunity to play for this football club has got responsibility to play to the best of their ability," Gray stated. "Unfortunately today we didn't have enough that did." He apologised to the 5,000 travelling supporters, accepting full responsibility for the exit. "We fell below the standards and we're out of the cup because of it. I need to own that."
The result stands as a classic Scottish Cup upset, with Dunfermline's disciplined display overcoming the Premiership side's perceived advantage, setting up a memorable fifth-round tie for the Fife club.
