Hibernian produced a five-star performance to sweep aside Billy Reid's Hamilton at Easter Road this afternoon. An opening goal from Colin Nish followed by doubles from Derek Riordan and Anthony Stokes had the game won long before the end of an exciting game with the visitors producing a number of chances themselves - but only able to get the ball beyond Graeme Smith once.

John Hughes made two changes to his starting line-up for the visit of Hamilton to Easter Road Stadium this afternoon, dropping out were Merouane Zemmama and Patrick Cregg with their places in the side taken by Colin Nish and Kevin McBride. There was also a tactical change at the heart of the home defence with Paul Hanlon lining up alongside Chris Hogg while Ian Murray moved to left back.

Hibernian got the action underway looking to put a disappointing performance at Tannadice last weekend behind them, but it was Hamilton who started the brighter of the teams and they were unfortunate not to make an early breakthrough. First Mensing had an effort from 25-yards pushed over the top by Smith before the home goalkeeper's unconvincing punch from the resulting corner kick was hooked towards the far post by the same Hamilton player only for Hanlon to clear from the goal-line.

Having survived an early scare Hibernian pushed forward themselves soon after when Murray drove towards the visitor's defence before slipping the ball to Stokes, the striker looked to pick his spot before slipping the ball beyond Cerny and towards the back post - however the goalkeeper did get the merest of touches to push it past the post. Moments later the Hamilton goalkeeper was again well positioned to stop a long range effort from Miller as Hibernian finally began to settle into their game. On 13 minutes a fantastic move between Wotherspoon and Stokes carved the Hamilton defence wide open for Riordan to slot a low cross into the net from close range, but the celebrations were cut short as the striker had been judged to have strayed offside.

The opening goal was only delayed a couple of minutes and once more it was the speed of the Hibernian attack that caught out the visitors. Hibernian broke forward and the ball was played up to Miller, who had waited for the perfect moment before slipping the ball through to Colin Nish - the big striker finished clinically and accurately, lifting the ball over the top of the diving Cerny and into the Hamilton net. Hamilton to their credit could have pulled level almost immediately when Smith showed fantastic agility to readjust his positioning as McLaughlin's strike at goal was diverted from the far post into the middle of the goal by Antoine-Curier.

On 20 minutes Hibernian doubled their advantage when Anthony Stokes robbed Mensing of possession on the edge of the penalty area before turning and smashing the ball past the helpless Cerny for his 12th goal of the season. Again Hamilton pushed forward from the restart and what appeared to be a harmless cross from Hastings on the left almost gave Hibernian goalkeeper Smith and embarrassing moment when it dipped it the last moment and struck the crossbar. On the break Hibernian had an opportunity to make the points safe when Nish was put clean through on goal, with only Cerny to beat and Riordan in support - but the striker hesitated long enough to allow McLaughlin to divert his pass wide of goal.

Hamilton were not out of the game yet and created another chance when Antoine-Curier held up the ball well whilst he waited for support before finding Mensing - the midfielder's curling drive from 20 yards out was just past the post with Smith scrambling to get across. Hibernian's strikers once more displayed why they are the envy of managers up and down the country when they clinically scored goal number three. A neat flick from Stokes allowed him to cut inside McLaughlin and his curling effort was superbly pushed onto the crossbar by Cerny, but first to the loose ball was Derek Riordan - the Hibernian striker making no mistake as he fired his volley into the vacant net.

The confidence that was missing from the Hibernian side in recent weeks had now returned and Rankin was close to a sensational fourth goal with a cheeky lob that finished just over the top of Cerny's bar with the Hamilton shot-stopper looking a worried man. Hamilton's top scorer this season is former Hibernian striker Mickael Antoine-Curier, and the powerful front man almost capped a fine performance with a goal on 42 minutes when he held off Hanlon and Hogg before getting a shot away which was superbly stopped by Smith.

As half time approached Hibernian almost grabbed a fourth goal when Canning just got in ahead of Riordan to divert the ball over his own crossbar as the striker looked set to slot it into the net from only a couple of yard out. From the resulting corner kick, Nish headed over from Rankin's cross as Hibernian went into the half break holding a comfortable lead. The first half performance would certainly have pleased manager John Hughes as his side clinically carved open the visitors, but Hamilton were certainly a threat at the other end and goalkeeper Smith had to be at his best to keep out former Hibs striker Antoine-Curier on a couple of occasions.

Half Time: Hibernian 3 Hamilton Academical 0

There were no changes at the interval as Hibernian started the second period strongly and penned Hamilton back into their own half. First a Stokes free kick was superbly saved by Cerny as it appeared set to find the top scorer of the net before the Hibernian striker stabbed the ball just wide from the resulting corner kick taken by Riordan. The positive opening to the half was rewarded with goal number four on 49 minutes.

It came when captain Neil brought down Rankin on the edge of the penalty area, this time Derek Riordan took responsibility for the set piece and curled an exquisite free kick over the defensive wall and into the Hamilton net for his second goal of the game. Riordan had a great opportunity to turn his two goals into three when Stokes played him in on the left hand side of the penalty area, the striker tried to beat Cerny with a low shot at his near post but the goalkeeper saved with his legs to thwart him. Billy Reid's men to their credit continued to push forward and they should have pulled a goal back when Marco Paixo pounced on a loose ball inside the home defence but his effort was blocked by Smith at his near post.

On 54 minutes Riordan and Stokes combined to score Hibernian's fifth goal of the afternoon after Hamilton were guilty of pushing forward and leaving their defence exposed. On the break the ball was fed wide left to Riordan and he picked out strike partner Anthony Stokes arriving into the penalty area, the forward bringing the ball down beautifully before stepping inside Canning and firing a powerful left foot drive beyond Cerny and into the net for his second goal of the afternoon.

There was frustration in the home end when referee Winter stopped play to allow treatment for McClenahan as Stokes raced clean through on goal. The match official had initially waved play on after the Hamilton defender went down and his decision to stop play during a clean goal scoring opportunity angered the Hibernian supporters. With the game now over as a contest, both managers made changes with Nish and Miller replaced by Benjelloun and Cregg for Hibernian, while Wilkie, Van Zanten and Elliot came on for Neil, McClenahan and Marco Paixao. Hamilton substitute Wilkie made an immediate impact when his cross was turned into the net by Flavio Paixao to give Billy Reid's men a consolation strike.

John Hughes final change on 74 minutes saw McBride replaced by Galbraith before Rankin picked up a yellow card for a crunching tackle on substitute Wilkie. As the game moved towards full time Hamilton were at last enjoying some degree of success in front of the Hibernian goal and it took a fine save from Smith to prevent McArthur from curling a shot into the far corner of his net. Having denied McArthur with a fine save just moments before, Hibernian goalkeeper Smith was again called into action to prevent the Hamilton midfielder from scoring when he threw himself down to his right to push the ball away from goal with his fingertips. Anthony Stokes - in search of his first hat-trick for the club - went close on 88 minutes when he cut inside onto his left foot and tried to find the far corner of the net but was off target on this occasion.

In time added on McLaughlin picked up a yellow card for a crude tackle on Benjelloun after the Hibernian striker had gone beyond him but there were to be no further incidents in the game. In the end it was a clinical performance from Hibernian and the perfect way to bounce back from recent disappointments.

Hibernian: Smith, Hogg, Murray, Nish, Riordan, Rankin, McBride, Stokes, Hanlon, Wotherspoon, Miller. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Cregg, Thicot, Stevenson, Benjelloun, Galbraith, McCormack.

Hamilton Academical: Cerny, McClenahan, Hastings, Canning, McLaughlin, McArthur, Antoine-Curier, Neil, Flavio Paixao, Marco Paixao, Mensing. Subs: Murdoch, Van Zanten, Evans, Elliot, Elebert, Wilkie.

Report: Richard Payne