Penalty was a joke!
Thomson admits he's to blame as he plays on through the pain barrier...

Kevin Thomson has been one of those players who have proven to be a bit of a find this season after he was thrust into the limelight late last year.  His performances have, in the main, been one of the brighter spots in a poor Hibs season although the 19 year old is quick to admit to having a poor game or making a mistake during one, as he did after giving away the ball initially, then a penalty as he tried to retrieve it within seconds of Hibs taking the lead!

“It was a bit of a joke to be honest, I really don’t know what I was thinking about,” Thomson said in the post match press conference.  “I did not realise the boy was so tight on me, but I learned not to muck about in the box! It was very disappointing, it seems that every time we go in front after working so hard to get their, we become slack, and again that showed on Saturday.”  Defensive frailties are normally quick to be pounced on but on this occasion, it was a midfielder who caused the problems although Thomson, who was due to depart for the Scotland Under 21 camp today, is unsure as to whether or not the penalty itself should have been given.

Hibs players celebrate with Colin Murdock - but it all changed shortly after  (sns)

“I don’t know if it was a penalty or not, I just did not realise he was there and the way I fell I don’t know how I managed to foul him, but it was the referee’s decision so nothing I can do about that."  With being taken off during the first half at Easter Road on Wednesday, there were some doubts over Kevin's fitness for the Partick game but his injury has not been serious enough to force him out completely and with a full week to prepare for a return match against Livingston, should he be excused from International duty as Bobby Williamson hopes, Thomson is looking forward to being fit again to take his place for a meeting with the CIS Cup Champions on Saturday coming.  "I’ve missed a couple of games now and feel a little sore but hopefully I can get some hard work in this week and get back to business again next week against Livingston.”

Bobby Williamson admitted last week that Thomson has had to take injections to play in some games of late, although it wasn't his injury that prevented him from taking part in the televised game with Celtic last weekend.  “I had to get an injection in my ankle before the cup final, and that’s what laid me out a bit so I missed the Celtic game. I did not have an injection before the Motherwell game which is why I did not last that game, but I took one before the game at Firhill to kill the pain for a couple of hours. It is working but I pay the price for it afterwards." With a need to get points on the board in the remaining games before the split, Thomson is looking to be involved in every game.  "To be honest I don’t want to rest, I want to play in every game and fingers crossed I can remain involved.”

While Hibs fans have started to show their dissatisfaction with the club of late, there have been signs that Hibs young team can give out as good as they've received at times.  However, periods of domination against Celtic and a two goal lead against Motherwell have failed to produce anything other than one point out of six, and while Saturday's point is better than nothing, it's still not enough.  “Draws are not much good to us now but I don’t think our performances have been so bad of late, we’ve worked really hard but yes at this time wins are what we need. It seems that we are working hard and doing well but we just can’t kill teams off when we go in front.”  With five of the current squad receiving recognition from Scotland Under 21 coach Rainer Bonhof and being asked to play for the national side this week, we can but hope that some of the International side's boss experience begins to rub off on them soon.

Clarification:

Yesterday's Sunday Supplement has provoked some questions over a possible change in Editorial policy on Hibs.net - that is not the case.  The article was written by myself and in it's conclusion represented the views of the majority of the Editorial team.  This does not mean that Hibs.net is calling for the removal of Bobby Williamson as this would mean that individual team members would be asked to back a particular line.  Hibs.net's Editorial policy has been and remains that it will allow the views and opinions of each individual member to be stated in it's front page articles.  We also actively encourage the submission of articles from those who use the site, whether they only read the site or whether they actively partake in discussions via the messageboard.  Anyone wanting to submit an article should do so to trevor@hibs.net , attaching their work in a Word document.  All items will be published provided they are not inflammatory or libellous.