EDINBURGH (Interstat) — Hibernian opened its Scottish Premiership campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Falkirk FC at Easter Road Stadium on Saturday, decisively outperforming pregame projections.

The match, which saw all three goals originate from substitutes in the second half, was controlled by the home side from the outset but required a breakthrough from its bench. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a tight 1-1 draw, while its ELO system gave Hibernian a 94.5 percent probability to win. The final scoreline validated the latter forecast as Hibernian’s depth proved overwhelming.

The first half was a physical, stop-start affair that yielded more yellow cards than scoring chances. Falkirk’s Dylan Tait was booked in the 16th minute, setting a tone of frustration for the visitors. Hibernian substitutes Leon McCann and Calvin Miller were both shown yellow cards shortly after entering the pitch in the 24th and 30th minutes, respectively, followed by a booking for Falkirk substitute Filip Lissah in the 34th.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 41st minute by Hibernian’s Kieron Bowie. The midfielder, who entered the match as a substitute, provided the crucial finish to a move that began with fellow substitute Calvin Miller, who was credited with the assist.

Bowie then turned provider for Hibernian’s second goal in the 80th minute. His pass found forward Martin Boyle, who doubled the lead and effectively sealed the result. Bowie wasn’t finished, however, capping a stellar individual performance with his second goal of the match just minutes later. That final strike was assisted by substitute Filip Lissah, making an impact after his earlier booking.

Bowie’s statline of two goals and one assist off the bench was the defining performance of the match. The trio of Hibernian substitutes — Miller, Lissah and Leon McCann — each recorded an assist, underlining the decisive impact of manager Nick Montgomery’s changes.

Falkirk, returning to the top flight, struggled to create meaningful opportunities and finished the match with 10 men after a late red card to a defender in stoppage time, compounding a difficult afternoon. The visitors managed only a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

With the win, Hibernian begins its Premiership season with one win and no losses, carrying a perfect record across all competitions. Falkirk starts its campaign with one loss and no wins in both the league and overall. The result immediately provides Hibernian with momentum in the table, while Falkirk is left to regroup after a harsh introduction to the top division.

The match officials issued six yellow cards in total, with Hibernian’s Bowie also receiving a caution in the 85th minute during the flurry of late activity. The comprehensive nature of the victory, fueled by a dynamic second-half substitute appearance, sends a strong early message from Hibernian as the Premiership season gets underway.