Ross County 0-2 Hibernian

Both Malonga goals came from Stevenson crosses

Dominique Malonga's first-half brace set Hibernian on their way to victory against Premiership strugglers Ross County in the Scottish League Cup.

The Championship side moved into the lead when the striker nodded home Liam Craig's cross from the left.

And Malonga doubled the lead with a similar finish, this time Lewis Stevenson providing the delivery.

The visitors had to see out the match with 10 men after Dylan McGeouch was dismissed a challenge on Joe Cardle.

The last time these two sides met County won to avoid relegation and sent Hibs further towards their eventual demotion.

And neither side went into the match in good form with the Dingwall men languishing at the bottom of the top flight with no points from seven matches and the visitors from Leith struggling in the bottom half of the Championship.

County fired into gear early with Rocco Quinn and Melvin De Leeuw both having fierce shots deflected wide in the opening five minutes.

Malonga then cracked a drive over the County crossbar before Graham Carey whipped a low shot narrowly past at the other end.

McGeouch's late red card did not affect the eventual outcome

Jordan Forster's header was cleared off the line but team-mate Malonga made no mistake when he edged Hibs into the lead from 10 yards on 22 minutes.

And Malonga was given ample room to repeated that feat soon after to give Jim McIntyre's side a mountain to climb.

Hibs almost moved further ahead when Jason Cummings hit the post early in the second half with a sharp side-foot volley.

Yoann Arquin threatened for County with a low shot but goalkeeper Mark Oxley maintained Hibs' lead with a good stop using his legs.

Home substitute Liam Boyce connected with a header from Michael Gardyne's pin-point cross midway through the second half but it nicked just wide of Hibs goal.

There was a glimmer of hope for the hosts when Hibs lost McGeouch to a straight red card for a heavy tackle on Cardle and County continued to drive forward.

However, the depleted visitors were resolute in defence and maintained a threat in attack.

Scott Allan forced a fine save from Mark Brown in stoppage time but two goals proved to be enough for Alan Stubbs' men.

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre: "I thought we started the game really well. We had a real go at Hibs but what we are not doing at the moment is putting the final touch to it.

"When you are not defending at the other end it is a recipe for not wining football matches.

"We had numerous crosses into the box, we had lots of attacking play but we need to be getting across their defenders and get the final touch when the opportunity presents itself.

"But until we stop gifting goals, like on Saturday and again tonight, you are going to struggle to win football matches."

Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs: "We scored two great goals and had other chances to score, we could have put the game to bed earlier.

"We tried a new system and you could see the players adapting to that at times. But to come away from home and beat a Premiership team is a great achievement. Hopefully, this is the turning point that can kick-start us.

"I thought that was the best we have defended since I've been here, we defended like our lives depended on it and it has to be like that every week."