Thibault Klidje scores header against Ross CountySNS

Thibault Klidje's seventh-minute header was the first of three Hibernian goals

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Hibernian avoided pressure intensifying on head coach David Gray by clinically dispatching third-tier Ross County to earn a Premier Sports Cup semi-final date at Hampden.

After back-to-back defeats by rivals Hearts and Scottish Premiership newcomers St Johnstone, Gray spent the past week facing intense criticism amid a stuttering start to the season.

There was no sign of the Hibs boss or his much-changed team feeling the heat, though, as the top-flight visitors charged into a three-goal first-half lead in Dingwall.

Thibault Klidje rose high to nod in Felix Passlack's cross before Adam Mayor slammed a spot-kick into the top-left corner after County defender Akil Wright was penalised for a tug on Jason Kerr's shirt.

And by the 39th minute, the away side were three up when another free-flowing move ended with Callum Wright's deflected strike being turned in by Ante Suto.

Gray's men join Edinburgh neighbours Hearts, who defeated Stenhousemuir on Friday, in the hat for the semi-final draw, which takes place after Sunday's Old Firm derby at Ibrox (12:00 BST).

Hibs analysis: Gray's men show clinical edge

This was a controlled, clinical and professional display from Hibs after a deflating nine days.

The damage was done in the first period, with wing-backs Passlack and Mayor regularly posing a threat, and it could have been more had Suto found the net with a glancing header or a driven attempt that soon followed.

Centre-back Kerr and substitute Nathan Lowe also nodded narrowly off target after the interval.

Although they now have a first semi-final in three years to look forward to, Hibs fans will have cautious optimism after this victory, given the level of the opposition and their team's unpredictability.

However, with back-to-back home games against struggling Premiership sides - Kilmarnock and Aberdeen - to come over the next week, Gray's men have a real chance to ignite their campaign.

Ross County analysis: Blunt hosts fail to create

County went into this tie with a five-game unbeaten run at home against Hibs. They had also won 10 of their past 13 games.

They exuded the confidence that comes with such form in the early exchanges, but that seemed to evaporate after Klidje planted in his first goal of the campaign in the seventh minute.

Manager Stuart Kettlewell cut a frustrated figure in the dugout as his team failed to properly test their Premiership opponents, but his side's season will not be defined by this loss.

Three points off the top of the third tier with a match to spare, attention will turn to dragging the former top-flight club back up to the Championship when they host Queen of the South on Tuesday (19:45).

What they said

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "I'm delighted for the players, they fully deserved it for what they put in today.

"It was a really difficult situation when you think about the noise before the game and playing against a side that are in my view, in a false position, in terms of the quality they've got."