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FIVE STAR HIBS
Strikers find that route to goal - JOHN CAMPBELL
CAPPING A FINE DISPLAY WITH TWO FINE GOALS
and clutching his well earned sponsors Man of the Match award, Craig
Brewster looked relaxed and ready for the challenges which lie ahead this
week and beyond as he spoke to Hibs.net after helping his side demolish
Dunfermline 5-1.
"I'm a happy man after getting those two goals and more so because its
another three points for the team. The boys played some great stuff today
and passed the ball about with confidence which sets us up really well for
facing Athens on Thursday." Brewster told
Hibs.net after what was a more than satisfying afternoon for the
club.
Brewster also agreed that the events of last Thursday were a little
upsetting in terms of their preparation he suggested that winning so well
against Dunfermline will stand them in good stead for the matches ahead,
starting with that UEFA Cup tie. "It will be a hard
game in Athens but we feel we are ready after two good victories against
Motherwell and Dunfermline. These have been competitive matches and AEK
haven't had any of those yet so if we keep our concentration and handle
the surroundings, especially the younger lads like Tam McManus and Ian
Murray, we can carry on our current good form."
Tom McManus - lost causes (sns)
Brewster had brought the game to life with his first goal as until then
Hibs had looked a wee bit sluggish but that header got them in gear and
his second was not long in following. A minor blip, when Crawford pulled
one back, did little to stop the constant flow of play towards Marco
Ruitenbeek's goal and when Tam McManus struck the third it was clear there
would be only one winner. "It was good that the strikers scored all
the goals today." smiled Brewster; "the
defenders have been letting us know that they've already weighed in with a
few. Both Paco Luna and I could have had hat-tricks and I think the side
has a good look about it just now, a good balance, with Ulrik on the left
and Alen and Ulises on the right."
Gaffer Alex McLeish was quick to praise the efforts of his players ahead
of what is a busy schedule. "There was real concentration there
today, not just in the passing movements but in our all round play. Guys
like Gary Smith who had found himself out of the team but fought his way
back in and who today was on the top of his game and never put a foot
wrong, he was outstanding."
McLeish also recognised the importance of having strength in depth and it
must have given him huge pleasure to see his starting strikers bag three
goals and then their replacements get or create another two. Speaking of
Spanish hitman Paco Luna he said; "It was important for him to get
his two goals as his confidence has dipped a little recently and whilst
David Zitelli didn't get on the scoresheet I was delighted with his
contribution when he came on. Craig Brewster and Tam McManus had done
really well scoring the first three goals and it's good to see young Tam
showing great appetite for the game in closing people down and chasing
lost causes"
Paco Luna rises above Skerla and beats Ruitenbeek to the ball (sns)
Confirming that the young striker will be OK for Thursday, despite being
subbed after suffering a few knocks in the game, he is aware that with
Luna and Zitelli in reserve he has the kind of selection headaches that
all Managers relish. "I was very happy too with the contributions
of our midfield where Ulises De La Cruz set up two goals whilst
demonstrating amazing strength and balance and Matty Jack continued his
fine run of form. Then there's John O'Neil who is unbelievable and whose
form has been fantastic since he joined this Club."
The game in Athens will be a real test for McLeish and his players but the
Manager exudes a quiet confidence that his players will make their mark in
the tie. "We will be ready for the test and we hope to go there
and maybe surprise Athens."
With Europe being the bonus of consistent League performances it must have
given McLeish a good feeling to realise that the victory over Dunfermline
puts Hibs back into the third spot they occupied for an fair amount of
time last season and on the evidence of their form in the last two matches
there seems little reason to suppose they won't, at worst, stay there for
some time to come.
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