Pars 0-4 Hibernian, pre-season friendly

ATHLETIC'S pre-season preparations suffered a setback as they were heavily beaten by Hibernian at East End Park last night.

Last season's Championship winners eased to a 4-0 win thanks to three second half goals in a display that Allan Johnston described afterwards as "flat".

The Pars boss was without Declan McManus and Jason Talbot but fielded new boys Jean-Yves M'Voto and Aaron Splaine for the team's first open-door friendly.

Johnston experimented with a 3-5-2 system - with Ryan Williamson and Lewis Martin deployed in wing back roles - as David Hopkirk was given a chance up front alongside Nicky Clark.

Hopkirk fired an early effort wide as the Pars made a positive start, but they fell behind in 24 minutes when Danny Swanson slotted home Calum Craine's cut back.

A lovely ball from Kallum Higginbotham sent Hopkirk clear on goal but he could only shoot straight at Ofir Marciano before M'Voto sent a header over the bar.

The Pars were unfortunate not to be level just before the break when Lee Ashcroft turned the ball into the net after the visiting keeper dropped a Higginbotham cross, but referee Kevin Clancy disallowed it for a foul that only he seemed to have seen.

Splaine, who was busy and showed a good eye for a pass throughout the half, was booked for a rash challenge right on half-time - and was subsequently substituted at the break - and, from the resulting set-piece, trialist Jermaine Pennant struck the bar.

Neil Lennon made seven changes at half-time while Johnston brought Paton on for Splaine, but in 59 minutes, Pars were two behind when former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Pennant netted from McGinn's cross.

The Pars reverted to 4-4-2 as trialists Michael Coulson and Cameron King were given run-outs, but that didnt stop McGinn finding Martin Boyle in acres of space to fire a third goal beyond Sean Murdoch.

Scotland international McGinn then completed a hat-trick of assists in 76 minutes, crossing for Olly Shaw to head home unmarked to complete the scoring.

Johnston commented: "We never created enough chances and McGinn came on in the second half to run the show. He set up three goals I think. It just shows you a wee bit of quality stands out a mile.

"We didn`t have that quality, we gave the ball away under no pressure. It is our second game but we know that we have a long way to go before we get to the standard that we want to be at.

"I thought we could have done a lot more. We broke at times but sometimes we just play in front of teams when we could be more of a threat getting in behind teams where it counts.

"When they scored the second goal in the second half you see the heads going down a bit and Hibs getting a lift from that. We have to do better than that, it was really really flat in the second half.

"It is pre season but I think we have got players capable of doing a lot better than that as a team, individually, collectively - we have to lift our game, it is as simple as that. We are looking forward to the games coming up."

The Pars boss is hopeful McManus will be available to play some part in Monday's friendly at Stark's Park against Raith Rovers, which kicks off at 7.45pm.

Dunfermline also play Cowdenbeath tonight in a closed-door game, which Johnston will use to give some of his younger players and trialists a run-out.

Pars: Murdoch, Morris, M'Voto, Ashcroft (Trialist 63), Williamson, Wedderburn (Lochhead 84), Splaine (Paton 45), Martin (Duthie 81), Higginbotham (Trialist 69), Clark (Smith 78), Hopkirk (Cardle 53).

Subs not used: Gill, Luke, Allan, Morrison, Trialist.

Hibernian: Marciano (Laidlaw 45), Gray, Porteous, Fontaine (McGregor 45), Bartley (Stevenson 45), Trialist (Boyle 59), McGeouch (McGinn 45), Swanson (Martin 45), Graham (F.Murray 45), Craine (S.Murray 45), Shaw.

Goals: Swanson (24), Trialist (59), Boyle (71), Shaw (76).

Referee: Kevin Clancy.

Attendance: 2,125.