Hearts 1-2 Hibernian: A new focus on youth
WHETHER by design or necessity, there was a refreshing feel to the Edinburgh Derby on Sunday with the number of youngsters on the park for both sides.
This is one of the most positive aspects to come out of the game which will please Pat Fenlon, the emergence of a new crop of youngsters getting their chance at Easter Road. Alex Harris in particular has impressed in recent weeks, Ross Caldwell prolific against Hearts at youth level bursting on the scene with the winner yesterday. Danny Handling has also been given his chance, and Jordan Forster who admittedly I knew nothing about had an excellent game at centre half.
In the difficult last few years the decision to build the new east stand and invest in training facilities has been much maligned with performances on the park well below the standards the fans expect. So it is positive to see signs of progress on that side. The Hibs youth sides have been successful for some time and there’s something about seeing talent which has been nurtured within the club, out on the park for the first team which gets the fans particularly excited.
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Some things are more important than football
THE tragic death of Kilmarnock fan James Haswell after collapsing during Hibernian’s visit last Sunday brought the conclusion of the Scottish Premier League season into sharp perspective. No-one should ever go to the football and not come home and thoughts and prayers go to Mr Haswell’s friends and family. Great credit must go to the medical and security team at Rugby Park for all their efforts and the match officials and both management teams made absolutely the correct call in abandoning the game.
Before tragedy struck both teams had served up a fairly entertaining 54 minutes that had the modest crowd and the few watching at home pleased they had not subjected themselves to the dirge that was Manchester United versus Chelsea. Both teams gave youth a chance and the increasingly impressive Alex Harris gave hibs the lead with a well taken goal from a sublime Ryan McGivern pass.
Before tragedy struck both teams had served up a fairly entertaining 54 minutes that had the modest crowd and the few watching at home pleased they had not subjected themselves to the dirge that was Manchester United versus Chelsea. Both teams gave youth a chance and the increasingly impressive Alex Harris gave hibs the lead with a well taken goal from a sublime Ryan McGivern pass.
However, Kilmarnock continued to pass the ball well and had exciting youngsters of their own, in particular the excellent Chris Johnston and the Rugby park side equalised ten minutes later. James Mcpake, who looks less and less like the inspirational leader who dragged us to safety last season and increasingly like most Hibernian centre halves of recent times made a mess of defending a long ball and expert poacher Kris Boyd defied his excessive weight to manoeuvre an excellent volley beyond Ben Williams.
Hibernian: Impressive comeback but lessons to be learned
REFLECTING on Hibs remarkable Scottish Cup comeback is no easy task. Looking back on a breathless 120 minutes at Hampden through slightly beer blurred eyes the magnitude of the hibees comeback cannot be overestimated. However neither can the abject nature of the first half display.
Glorious sunshine met the teams for the first Scottish Cup semi final of the season but the fans barely had time to settle before Falkirk took the lead. This set the tone for the first half and viewers not accustomed to the Scottish game would have been confused as to which side was the SPL team.
Glorious sunshine met the teams for the first Scottish Cup semi final of the season but the fans barely had time to settle before Falkirk took the lead. This set the tone for the first half and viewers not accustomed to the Scottish game would have been confused as to which side was the SPL team.
Falkirk deserve huge credit for the way they played and played excellent football with some outstanding attacking players in their ranks. Hibs, yet again repeating their 4-5-1 set up continued their recent trend of lumping long balls towards Lee Griffiths and hoping our talismanic centre forward would produce something and were deservedly two down shortly after.
Seeing a Fulton’s face on the Hampden big screen proved too much for many hibees and the mass exodus started. The exits were even busier shortly after as Falkirk deservedly took a three nil half time lead. Derision, scarves and shirts rained down from the Hibernian support as the half time whistle blew.
Hibs had been completely outclassed by a lower league side and surely more Hampden heartache was upon us.
Hibernian: Hibs struggling for form ahead of Hampden
IT has been a controversial couple of weeks down Easter Road.
Truly awful officiating has coincided with a downturn in form which leaves a top six potentially out of Hibs hands. Four points were dropped to refereeing mistakes, conceding a penalty for a foul a metre outside the box at Tannadice, and then Leigh Griffiths “goal” unbelievably not being giving against Hearts. Added to a shocking decision to award Kilmarnock a penalty in the Cup Quarter final for a foul nobody saw and the Easter Road faithful have been left cursing their luck.
Griffiths wonderful derby day free kick once again ignited a nationwide debate over goal line technology in football but surely getting officials who can do their job should be more of a priority. Griffiths strike wasn’t just over the line, it nearly touched the back of the net and even the Hearts fans behind the goals at the other end of the Easter Road pitch awaited the awarding of a goal which never came.
There is a common cliché in football that decisions balance themselves out and Hibs undoubtedly benefited from a couple of shocking decisions at fir Park earlier in the season as well as a phantom goal of their own in the relegation decider against Dunfermline last season. However this should not detract from the need for improved performances from Scottish officials. The lack of accountability and explanation for decisions also frustrates fans hugely and would be a very simple step to improving our game.
There is a common cliché in football that decisions balance themselves out and Hibs undoubtedly benefited from a couple of shocking decisions at fir Park earlier in the season as well as a phantom goal of their own in the relegation decider against Dunfermline last season. However this should not detract from the need for improved performances from Scottish officials. The lack of accountability and explanation for decisions also frustrates fans hugely and would be a very simple step to improving our game.
Hibernian daring to dream
THERE can be no denying that the Scottish Cup entices Hibs fans. A travelling support of around 3500 at Rugby Park is just about unheard of in Scottish football these days, never mind for a televised game on a Sunday, and the vast Hibs support that witnessed a competent quarter final victory over Kilmarnock can now have serious desires of the ending “the hoodoo”.
So long has passed since the cup last resided at Easter Road that the first airplane flight hadn’t been made, television broadcasts hadn’t begun yet, and past winners such as Airdrie, Third Lanark and Rangers no longer even exist. And after receiving the most favourable of semi-final draws against Falkirk there is a real chance of a first Scottish Cup Win since 1902.
In almost a mirror image of last year’s run to the final Hearts, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock have all been met but Hibs can ill afford complacency. Hampden calamities such as Ayr United, Livingston and Dunfermline live fresh in the memory as well as the obvious final disaster last May and the Easter Road team have a long history of making the simple seem near impossible. However, Pat Fenlon and his team deserve much credit for returning to Hampden to exercise the demons of last year’s final.
Griffiths was the main man for Hibs at Rugby Park. Photo by Gary McLaughlin
Leigh Griffiths will undoubtedly seize the limelight behind the cup run. His hat trick in Ayrshire rounding of the finest striking performances of recent times in a Hibs shirt, albeit aided by some woeful Kilmarnock defending. It is pleasing, yet difficult to understand how struggling Wolves can deem “Sparky” surplus to requirements. However, an honourable mention must go to a man with Hampden demons of his own. Jorge Claros was imperious again on Sunday in what is proving to be a stunning season for the Honduran. Substituted early in the cup final in May after a torrid opening to the game this year’s cup final will probably be his last appearance for Hibs should they make it that far and would prove a fitting turnaround from last year.
Hibernian and Kevin Thomson: Time to forgive and forget?
THE return of Kevin Thomson to training at East Mains with the view to a possible deal at Easter Road has divided opinion amongst the Hibernian supporters. Whilst it is hard to begrudge someone an increase in wages and silverware, it wasn’t so much his £2 million transfer to Rangers in January 2007 that infuriated Hibs fans, as the comments made by the lifelong supporter and former club captain. Statements along the lines of 'walking along the M8 barefoot and walking over broken class to join the Ibrox club' did nothing to endear Thomson to the Easter Road support, and the timing of the transfer and manufactured nature of it increased the ire of Hibs supporters further.
The timing of the transfer was also extremely poor with Hibs closing in on the CIS Cup, their first trophy in 16 years, but Thomson proving to be a disruptive influence since joining up with the odious agent Willie McKay resulting in him being stripped of the club captaincy. Thomson’s best friend Scott Brown who’s desire to leave hibs was also common knowledge, continued to turn in committed performances until the end of the season helping the Hibees lift the trophy. Brown, unlike Thomson, continued to give full and dedicated service to Hibs until his departure and made no disparaging comments despite never pretending to support the club unlike his best friend.