Hibs no write-offs
Confidence still high in the dressing
room - JOHN CAMPBELL
IT WAS A NIGHT OF DISAPPOINTMENT for
those 500 or so brave souls who had chosen to return to Athens for the
rescheduled game against AEK. A naive penalty conceded by Ulrik Laursen
was bad enough but then the defence went to sleep allowing the Greek
side's star man Demis Nikolaidis to snatch a second.
But all is not lost for
Hibs and it was certainly not a night where heads should be hung as the
players gave their all and at the end of the day were a bit unlucky not to
grab that vital away goal which would have put a whole different
complexion on the game. Alex McLeish was rightly proud of the efforts of
his players and was quick to remind the cock-a-hoop Greeks that it is only
half-time in this tie.
"Europe is a very different ball game
from playing in domestic football and when you come up against a team with
the pedigree of AEK it is very difficult but my players, tactically,
played very well tonight. Unfortunately, the penalty changed the game and
AEK started the second half very well. At the start of the second half AEK
applied a lot of pressure and perhaps my players thought at half time that
they'd already done the job,"
McLeish said.
Quality opponents with a
proven pedigree in Europe McLeish would be disappointed that after an
excellent first half, in which Hibs contained the threat of the pacy home
side very well, his players switched off a little and conceded two bad
goals. Disappointed yes but also proud of his players' efforts, as McLeish
said: "I cannot fault my players tonight. They
gave their all against a very good team and I felt we were very unlucky
not to leave Athens with an away goal."
Quality opponents with a proven European track-record
Certainly they had the
odd chance to grab that vital away strike and when Alen Orman burst into
their box late on the gaffer must have thought that moment had arrived.
However, the big defender decided to shoot at goal when a square pass to
the waiting Luna may have been somewhat more productive.
The first half, whilst
not one which would be enjoyed by the football purist, saw Hibs easily
cancel out the threat of the Greeks and sterling performances by Murray,
Fenwick and O'Neil were the foundation for taking the tie in goal-less at
half time but as McLeish suggested later, his side lost concentration for
a spell and were punished in the severest way. McLeish said:
"Next week its the second half and we hope to make it an
interesting game. A few weeks ago the Greek National side travelled to
Sweden, lost an early goal and were heavily defeated. AEK, with their
great experience will start favourites to protect their two goal lead but
if we can get an early goal, we have a chance."
Clearly the loss of
Franck Sauzee was a factor but his lack of full fitness forced McLeish to
change things around, even if only minimally. McLeish had already planned
his tactics and it seems that even if Sauzee had played the plan was to go
4-4-2. Certainly that ploy fooled the AEK Coach Santos who later admitted
as much that he'd set his side up to counter Hibs' usual 3-5-2 formation.
Sauzee is suffering from the Achilles injury he picked up against
Dunfermline and was described by McLeish as being 75 to 80 per cent fit.
His situation for Sunday's League tie against St Johnstone is still to be
assessed and h will undergo rigorous treatment.
So, next Thursday is
eagerly awaited and despite the reversal in Athens this tie is far from
finished. |
