Hibernian eased into the semi-finals of the League Cup after a convincing 3-0 victory over Ross County in Dingwall.
The draw threw up memories of cup wins in both 2010 and memorably in the 2016 final for the League One side, but there was to be no such celebration in the Highlands this time.
Two goals in the opening 14 minutes from Thibault Klidje and Adam Mayor put David Gray’s men in the driving seat.
A third six minutes before the interval from Ante Suto all but ended the match as a contest, and though the Staggies by no means disgraced themselves, they never truly threatened to get back into the tie.
A bright start had the two teams going toe-to-toe, but it was the visitors who took the lead in the seventh minute as Klidje rose highest in the County box to head into the bottom corner.
The visitors were handed a golden chance to double their lead seven minutes later when they were awarded a penalty.
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Akil Wright was adjudged to have pulled down Jason Kerr at a Felix Passlack corner, and full-back Mayor duly converted the spot-kick.
Suto went close to making it three as he stooped to connect with Jack Iredale’s low cross, but his header spiralled just over the bar, and the same player later forced a good save out of Brad Foster down to his left.
It would be three before half-time, with some great interplay in the middle of the park between Josh Mulligan and Callum Wright eventually leading to Suto finally finding the back of the net.
Although Country tried to switch things up after the restart, including changing shape to a back three, it was still the visitors who created the better chances, with Kerr heading over the bar at a set-piece.
Crosses continued to be a problem for the Staggies, with Mayor picking out Nathan Lowe with just under 15 minutes left on the clock only for the Hibs substitute to miss the target.
There was to be no late consolation for the home fans to cheer, though, as Hibernian fairly comfortably saw out the closing stages.
