Queen of the South 1-3 Hibernian: Jack Ross' side brush aside battling Championship outfit

Impressive Hibernian swept aside Championship side Queen of the South to set up a meeting with Stranraer in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

Christian Doidge scored either side of half-time as dominant Hibs handled a potentially tricky cup tie in Dumfries.

Martin Boyle chipped in a third as Jack Ross' side cruised through to the last 16.

James Maxwell knocked in a late consolation for the hosts.

However, they were unable to repeat their shock league win over Hearts nine days previously.

Should Hibernian win at League Two side Stranraer in the next round, they will host the winners of Motherwell or Greenock Morton in the quarter-finals.

• Reaction & as it happened

With the lack of an Edinburgh derby on the fixture list, one way for Hibs fans to get one over their capital rivals Hearts was to put away the side that had defeated their Championship neighbours 3-2 just over a week ago.

They took their time to stamp their authority on the game though, but when they did they showed the sort of quality that has them seven points clear in third place in the Premiership.

On-loan Rangers defender Maxwell allowed Martin Boyle to dart in behind him unchecked, and the Hibs man forced a fine save from Queens goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson.

More smart play from Hibs created an opportunity for Kevin Nisbet, but the new Scotland cap was wayward with his shot. Doidge put one over from an angle, and Jackson Irvine had a swing at the ball inside the box as they failed to work the goalkeeper.

But as Hibs got to grips with the unfamiliar artificial pitch, they began to exert more pressure. And, minutes after putting a header over the bar, Doidge was on hand to knock the ball home as Queens struggled to clear a corner.

Before the break, Hibs goalkeeper Matt Macey - making just his third appearance of the season - was left stranded as Rhys McCabe's free-kick rattled the outside of a post, as Queens served a reminder they weren't out of the game yet.

But the hosts had to withstand heavy pressure as Hibs hemmed them in at the start of the second half.

Then, three huge moments in the game in a matter of minutes were pivotal.

Pegged back for so long, Stephen Dobbie's long ball through the middle got Queens forward, and Macey had to tip away Connor Shields' shot.

Then Dobbie went down in the box looking for a penalty. As the referee waved away the claims, Hibs raced forward on the counter-attack, cut the Championship side open, and Doidge beat the goalkeeper to double the advantage.

And Ross' side finished it when Boyle latched on to Nisbet's through ball and chipped the goalkeeper for the third.

Queens went down fighting, though, and Maxwell slipped through the Hibs defence and knocked in a consolation.

Almost instantly Hibs went close to restoring their three-goal lead when Doidge, chasing a hat-trick, headed off the near post from a corner.

Queen of the South manager Allan Johnston: "Against top teams you need to take your chances. Once they're 2-0 ahead it's obviously very difficult.

"We had to open up and try and get something out of the game. But we've got to learn, that's the kind of standard we want to try and be at."

Hibernian head coach Jack Ross: "What we had worked on, what we expected, was what we faced.

"We carry a threat on the counter; we've got good pace and players who can pick passes. We've players who work hard to get forward and show a ruthlessness when they get there."