Don't judge
me on one game!
Caig plea for another chance to
prove his worth - STUART CROWTHER AS
FAR AS DEBUTS GO, Tony Caig will wish to quickly forget Saturday
24th November. For most players a debut in any major league is a
time to be treasured, but every now and again things don't quite work out
as planned, and for Caig the 3-0 doing handing out by Livingston at Easter
Road on Saturday was just one such day.
Caig was given the
chance to impress on the back of indifferent performances from Nick
Colgan, but although he would never have shown any outward pleasure,
Colgan must have had a wry smile hidden in there somewhere as he looked on
to see his replacement face exactly the same scenario as Colgan has
endured this season. Livingston had three shots on target, and all
three rolled easily into the Hibs net, with only the second of these
coming close to being re-directed by the goalkeeper. "Initially
the manager told me when I got into the side he would give me a run of
games to prove myself," Caig was quick to point out after his
unmemorable performance, adding: "I think it
would be harsh to reject me after just one game."
Alex McLeish with Tony Caig - run in first team promised (hibs.net)
Perhaps it would be
harsh, but Colgan will no doubt wish to point out that he was made
something of a scapegoat for an entire Hibs side from which all confidence
has been drained. Replacing Colgan did nothing for the outfield
errors that were arguably the cause of the Irishman's downfall, rather
than any particular loss of form on his part. Once again Hibs had
most of the ball on Saturday, but once again the Easter Road side quickly
ran out of ideas, being outthought and outfought by a Livi side who are
brimming with confidence and no small amount of skill.
"Nobody
can believe what is happening to us," Caig proclaimed in what
must go down as one of the understatements of the season so far! The
goalkeeper added: "There was a time when
everything we hit went into the net, now we are struggling. I went
into the match with the selfish point of view - I wanted to keep a clean
sheet. So losing three goals was hard to take after waiting so long
for my chance. I could hear the fans voicing their disappointment
but I think that was only fair under the circumstances."
Hibs fans are likely as baffled as everyone else, long silences on
Saturday from the home stands were in stark contrast to the rocking
atmosphere generated by the same fans on the night of the AEK Athens
game. It seems incredible to most Hibees that that game only took
place in September.
Hibs are back in
action immediately tomorrow, when Dundee
United arrive at Easter Road looking to add to the Hibees
misery. The CIS Insurance Cup may no longer have massive
significance on the Scottish football calendar, but for Hibs this has
become a vital game, another opportunity to prove that this side are more
than one-season wonders. A return trip to Hampden is the prize,
although it has to be said that even if Hibs attain that goal the
thousands who travelled to the national stadium with some confidence just
seven months ago will perhaps be more muted this time around.
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