Hibees set to have a
go!
Backs to the wall is not on the
agenda - STUART CROWTHER
HIBS
WILL SEEK TO ATTACK AEK Athens at every opportunity this evening when
the long-awaited UEFA Cup tie finally kicks off in the Nikos Goumas
stadium. And Alex McLeish will be pointing to the performance of
Celtic against Juventus on Tuesday as an example of what a Scottish team
can do if they apply themselves - but also will warn his players against
falling into the Celtic trap and becoming victims rather than heroes!
McLeish
has often highlighted the tough job facing match officials, and after
watching with interest the performance of the referee in Turin on Tuesday,
when Celtic lost the game to a last-minute penalty decision that nobody
but the referee believed was just, the Hibs boss commented: "As
much as I want the player not to be intimidated, it must be that way for
the match officials as well. The referee for our game, Attila
Hanacsek, is probably a rookie referee hoping to climb the ladder.
At this stage in the competition I suppose we could not expect the most
experienced referee in the world.
 "But
we will respect him, although my players must be very careful in and
around the box. The penalty award in the Celtic game showed just
what can happen." The
Hibs fans might be greatly reduced in number after the late postponement
of the game last week, with perhaps 400 fans expected to make it this time
around - 1000 less than were in Athens for the original date a week
earlier. But McLeish is convinced that this small band will make
roar twice as load to make up for their lack of numbers. He said: "They
will still make a lot of noise, and we really appreciate their
support. We have Dougary Scott here with us - he should have been in
Toronto for the premier of Enigma, but that was cancelled due to the
problems over in America. The only problem having him here is that
he wants to talk about football all the time and I can't get in a word
about the movies!"
Scott
may be a famous actor but his dedication to Hibs is matched only by every
other Hibee fan who has made the trip to Athens for a second time, joining
dozens more who never left the city after the postponement last
week! The 'Mission Impossible' actor will feature this morning on
Grant Stott's three-hour show on Radio Forth, beamed direct from the roof
of an Athens hotel, and joining Stott and Scott will be Hibs.net's
assistant editor John Campbell.
Looking
ahead to the game itself, McLeish can see no reason why his side can
overcome the difficult task ahead of them. He said: "We
are under no illusions. The AEK team is full of quality players such
as Vassili Tsartas, if he gets a bit of room we will have to be very
wary. They have a great deal of pace and always try to work things
down the flanks. Their defenders are cavalier and their wingers are
very direct, so our concentration has to be 100 per cent and we must not
be caught ball watching. How many times do you think things are
going well in Europe and the roof caves in?"
And that is the most telling point that Hibernian will need to be aware of
from the start. It will be a high-pressure evening for the Hibees,
players, coaching staff and fans alike - but Hibs are good enough, they
can come away with a result that will set up a gala night at Easter Road 7
days later.
Whatever
the result however, everyone connected with Hibernian F.C. must never
forget from where we came! This was summed up nicely when on landing
in Greece, goalkeeper Nick Colgan said: "The
club have come a long way in just a few seasons after being in the first
division. To be in Europe so soon is a great achievement."
To be there and win would then be a magnificent achievement - go for it
Hibs!
Pic: Holywood star
and Hibee fan Dougary Scott, who will line-up alongside Hibs.net's asst.
editor John Campbell on Radio Forth live from Athens today.
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