We're getting there..

[3pm]

We're definitely getting better. More solid at the back (the Celtic game increasingly looks like a bad day at the office) but we need more going forward at home.

I am sure if we stick at it we're going to be fine.

[Frazerbob]

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We're definitely getting better. More solid at the back (the Celtic game increasingly looks like a bad day at the office) but we need more going forward at home.

I am sure if we stick at it we're going to be fine.

We won't go down now so that is mission accomplished I suppose. A win next week will mean a trip to Hampden and depending on the draw a cracking chance to do the unthinkable. It will give us all something to look forward to. Next week is now the HUGE for us.

[BSEJVT]

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We won't go down now so that is mission accomplished I suppose. A win next week will mean a trip to Hampden and depending on the draw a cracking chance to do the unthinkable. It will give us all something to look forward to. Next week is now the HUGE for us.

First Home Game this season after 20 years with a season ticket.

In some ways we are much better than we were last season.

McPake Claros & Griffiths are better than anything we had last year

Defence werent overly troubled today

Is it a recent phenomenon that the forwards play at least 30 yards ahead of the midfield, who dont seem to make any effort to support them?

Lack of width is frightening

I was surprised at how little intensity there was to Hibs today, I thought we would be really up for it and get tore in amongst them.

There was barely a tackle worth the mention in the whole game.

Our ability to create is entirely dependant on Griffiths making good runs and Claros /Osbourne finding him

We still dont look anything like fit IMO

Found it strange that O' Donovan lasted as long.

Was looking today for a glimmer of an excuse to go every week and to be honest didnt see it today

Prepared for the pelters that come with these comments

[MartinfaePorty]

Pretty much agree with what you said. Soares missed, as no one from midfield getting forward quickly enough. Thought better shape when Spoony came on and played 'in the hole'. Impressed by both centre halfs, though, and there is much better pressing of opposition than under Calderwood.

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First Home Game this season after 20 years with a season ticket.

In some ways we are much better than we were last season.

McPake Claros & Griffiths are better than anything we had last year

Defence werent overly troubled today

Is it a recent phenomenon that the forwards play at least 30 yards ahead of the midfield, who dont seem to make any effort to support them?

Lack of width is frightening

I was surprised at how little intensity there was to Hibs today, I thought we would be really up for it and get tore in amongst them.

There was barely a tackle worth the mention in the whole game.

Our ability to create is entirely dependant on Griffiths making good runs and Claros /Osbourne finding him

We still dont look anything like fit IMO

Found it strange that O' Donovan lasted as long.

Was looking today for a glimmer of an excuse to go every week and to be honest didnt see it today

Prepared for the pelters that come with these comments

[hfc rd]

I agree with the title of this thread that we are getting better but slowly. We really missed Soares in the midfield. Their GK had a great game. Our defence looked good and much better organised. The only thing missing from hibs today was that all important winning goal. I don't know why PF brought gazza on in injury time, when he could have brought him on 10-15 before the end rather than two mins left. MOTM for me was claros with Griffiths closely followed in 2nd.

Onwards & upwards

GGTTH

[ano hibby]

Would have been great for Claros if his shot had gone in, but he was very tidy overall. Mcpake, Stevenson & Griffiths best players otherwise.
Francomb poor didn't look like he had confidence to take ball from Stack or provide much needed width. Kujabi defended well i thought but again could have provided more width.
Sproule look more interested than recent performances but some poor choices still.

Key point is with that team and spirit we should stay up.

Agree that with 25/30 to go needed Doyle or GOC for O'Donovan who did generally ok but we needed fresh approach.

[ano hibby]

Oh and would have loved McPakes header from
Corner to go in, great save though

[SaulGoodman]

When Claros plays a long ball it's usually brilliant. I just think he needs the confidence to do it more often.

[seven nowt]

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There was barely a tackle worth the mention in the whole game.

Paul Hanlon's slide tackle was a very good challenge midway through the second half. I missed it but I've heard Claros made a good challenge within the first minute too.

[hfc rd]

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When Claros plays a long ball it's usually brilliant. I just think he needs the confidence to do it more often.

Totally agree. But at times there is no one really making the run. Sometimes when we had the ball in the final third, there was not that much movement off the ball going on.

[col02]

Midfield positions today was baffling at times imho. Sproule should have been on the right with Stevenson in the middle and Claros and Osbourne in the centre. Not a big fan of playing players on their weaker foot unless the ball happens to be in behind with enough time to turn back onto the stronger foot. Crying out for a sub today as well in the forward department and would have went for O'Connor sooner than when he did come on. That said Hanlon and McPake looking stronger every game as a pairing.

[down-the-slope]

i enjoyed a lot of aspects of todays game. More positive atmosphere (good given all the Hibs kids) and players that looked like a team - and a decent one.

Yes more width required, but we created 4/5 good chances and Stack did not have a save to make I can remember. The players defended from the front and the back 4 were good with plenty cover in front of them.

St Mirren also defended well given the amount of pressure we had, but Thompson for them was as poor as GOC has recently been for us meaning they were not as bit a threat as when they had Higdon. Also thought they missed Goodwin in midfield - although he was comfortable at CH for them.
If we had a goalie that I beleived in behind McPake & Hanlon it would be a really good base with Claros and Lewis in front. I feel we missed Soares and Ivan is not a great option instead. Ivans lack of a left foot prevented chances as he constantly had to turn back when the ball was there to be slung over.

We need a bit more offensively on the bench as we progress as well

[DaveF]

Seems like Fenlon was happy to accept a point, unless there is another reason why he did not change the foward line.

We are getting better, but today was a chance missed to post 3 points and really the relegation ghost away.

[BSEJVT]

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i enjoyed a lot of aspects of todays game. More positive atmosphere (good given all the Hibs kids) and players that looked like a team - and a decent one.

Yes more width required, but we created 4/5 good chances and Stack did not have a save to make I can remember. The players defended from the front and the back 4 were good with plenty cover in front of them.

St Mirren also defended well given the amount of pressure we had, but Thompson for them was as poor as GOC has recently been for us meaning they were not as bit a threat as when they had Higdon. Also thought they missed Goodwin in midfield - although he was comfortable at CH for them.
If we had a goalie that I beleived in behind McPake & Hanlon it would be a really good base with Claros and Lewis in front. I feel we missed Soares and Ivan is not a great option instead. Ivans lack of a left foot prevented chances as he constantly had to turn back when the ball was there to be slung over.

We need a bit more offensively on the bench as we progress as well

Fair summation

I thought we were very slow moving the ball around and lacked actual pace in the team.

We also appear to be very laboured in waht we did, but I appreciate that is probably lack of confidence manifesting itself.

[Sas_The_Hibby]

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We won't go down now so that is mission accomplished I suppose. A win next week will mean a trip to Hampden and depending on the draw a cracking chance to do the unthinkable. It will give us all something to look forward to. Next week is now the HUGE for us.

4 points ahead, with 8/9 games to go; I trust the players and management aren't as complacent as you seem to be!

[Keith_M]

I can't comment on the side just now, as I've not had the chance to see them in person for a while, but it looks like a lot of fans aren't buying into the 'Fenlon Revolution'. There were only 8,804 home fans at the game today (according to match update thread).

I think that's a shame but I suppose it's not entirely surprising with how badly we've played at home for a while now.

[Hillsidehibby]

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4 points ahead, with 8/9 games to go; I trust the players and management aren't as complacent as you seem to be!

I agree. Bizzare statement.

[lucky]

There is a steady improvement, I also don't think we will go down. But It does appear that PF is happy not to lose rather than go for the win. Our midfield sat very deep. At least 30 yards between them and the forwards. With a bit of luck we could get to the cup final and catch both St Mirren and ICT. Next two games will shape our season from a disastrous start to a decent finish.

[Franck is God]

At the moment we are playing to win points in the simplest way possible starting with a clean sheet and anything that can be pinched at the other end gives us a possible 3 points.

The tactics we are using are pretty simple and far from extravagant but it is fairly effective, a solid back four, quite a narrow midfield four cutting down space for the opposition and in the last few games a mobile hard working front two to try and split wide, hold the ball up to either bring the midfield into scoring positions or win a free kick/corner/throw in an attacking position.

The keeper was the difference for Aberdeen the other week and again Samson today for St Mirren won his team a point with a few excellent saves.

We are definitely getting there, a couple more wins and clean sheets will hopefully leave Dunfermline with too much to do and as a result Fenlon can open the team up a bit and play a more expansive game but with the season we have had to date any point won has to be considered a good one.

[down-the-slope]

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I can't comment on the side just now, as I've not had the chance to see them in person for a while, but it looks like a lot of fans aren't buying into the 'Fenlon Revolution'. There were only 8,804 home fans at the game today (according to match update thread).

I think that's a shame but I suppose it's not entirely surprising with how badly we've played at home for a while now.

I wouldnt worry - if we get a result at Ayr 1000's will be cured of amnesia and suddenly remember they are Hibs supporters

[Baldy Foghorn]

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First Home Game this season after 20 years with a season ticket.

In some ways we are much better than we were last season.

McPake Claros & Griffiths are better than anything we had last year

Defence werent overly troubled today

Is it a recent phenomenon that the forwards play at least 30 yards ahead of the midfield, who dont seem to make any effort to support them?

Lack of width is frightening

I was surprised at how little intensity there was to Hibs today, I thought we would be really up for it and get tore in amongst them.

There was barely a tackle worth the mention in the whole game.

Our ability to create is entirely dependant on Griffiths making good runs and Claros /Osbourne finding him

We still dont look anything like fit IMO

Found it strange that O' Donovan lasted as long.

Was looking today for a glimmer of an excuse to go every week and to be honest didnt see it today

Prepared for the pelters that come with these comments

Re the highlighted parts I was saying the same, really had little width, the players looked absolutely out on their feet at around the 70-75 minute mark, and would have brought either Doyle or GOC on with about twenty to go. To give GOC a couple of minutes was a bit pointless IMO

[Hibernia&Alba]

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I can't comment on the side just now, as I've not had the chance to see them in person for a while, but it looks like a lot of fans aren't buying into the 'Fenlon Revolution'. There were only 8,804 home fans at the game today (according to match update thread).

I think that's a shame but I suppose it's not entirely surprising with how badly we've played at home for a while now.

Really? I thought there were mair, but look at the league table. A decent team playing good football and we can double that. We just need the feel good factor again.

As for the OP, aye, we're getting there. Long way to go and today was an opportunity lost in the sense that the three points would have made a big difference. On the positive side, we should have won, and the point gives us that wee bit of extra breathing space. Let's have a right good go in the cup to lift the spirits, survive in the SPL and then look ahead to a re-vamped side next year. One step at a time

[Frazerbob]

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4 points ahead, with 8/9 games to go; I trust the players and management aren't as complacent as you seem to be!

4 points ahead with a game in hand. Marked improvement since the end of January and FAR better players now at the club.A few clean sheets in recent weeks which ws the first target IMO. Dunfermline can't buy a win at EEP and now their players are not being paid in full (which is a bigger deal to guys on £500 per week than the Jambos on £5000 per week for example).

I would hope the players and manager aren't as complacent as me also but I still beleive 100%, we won't go down. I couldn't say that a few weeks ago.

[NAE NOOKIE]

I would agree that we are looking a lot more solid, but if you are going to play a conservative game as we appear to be doing at the moment the midfield need to support better when we do break. We had a good second half today, but Ozzy drove me mental a couple of times when he held his position when a run past the player in possession for a pass would have sent him on the way into the St Mirren box.

I'm a bit surprised that folk are saying less than 10,000 Hibbies there today because it looked more than 10,000 to me from the middle of the East.

I see that Ayr beat Falkirk today, so lets not start going on about semi finals just yet, this is going to be a really tough match. Looking forward to it though, should be a cracking atmosphere.

[bighairyfaeleith]

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At the moment we are playing to win points in the simplest way possible starting with a clean sheet and anything that can be pinched at the other end gives us a possible 3 points.

The tactics we are using are pretty simple and far from extravagant but it is fairly effective, a solid back four, quite a narrow midfield four cutting down space for the opposition and in the last few games a mobile hard working front two to try and split wide, hold the ball up to either bring the midfield into scoring positions or win a free kick/corner/throw in an attacking position.

The keeper was the difference for Aberdeen the other week and again Samson today for St Mirren won his team a point with a few excellent saves.

We are definitely getting there, a couple more wins and clean sheets will hopefully leave Dunfermline with too much to do and as a result Fenlon can open the team up a bit and play a more expansive game but with the season we have had to date any point won has to be considered a good one.

I agree, this team can play a much better passing game than we currently do, however with every game since mid january(celtic aside) we have played better and better.

We now have a solid defence we can rely on, we have midfield that can control the game.

We don't yet have a settled front line scoring goals, however that will come, we just need O'connor to get his focus and I reckon him and griffiths could be dynamite.

Little steps are what we need, keep building for next season

[The Voice Of Reason]

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I wouldnt worry - if we get a result at Ayr 1000's will be cured of amnesia and suddenly remember they are Hibs supporters

Uber Fan alert !

A trip to Hampden in a Semi Final - would you rather we didn't have a big support there ?!?!?

Hardly a new thing for a team to take a lot more fans to a showpiece game than normally turn up on a Saturday is it ?

[Malonga's Cat]

I think we are definitely going in the right direction. I wouldn't like to tempt fate but if we keep playing like we did today (and last week) then we should be safe. I think Fenlon has worked wonders so far, given the state we were in when he arrived.

[NORTHERNHIBBY]

Anyone that was at the first home game against St Mirren and was also there today cannot credibly say that there has been no progress.

[Hibernia&Alba]

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Anyone that was at the first home game against St Mirren and was also there today cannot credibly say that there has been no progress.

Excellent post right here

[RIP]

Before Christmas a 0-0 draw at home against St Mirren would have been greeted by a loud chorus of boos

The message is finally getting through that we are, for the moment, a bottom six club and survival is our main aim.

I'm happy if we improve steadily over the next few seasons under Pat Fenlon

GGTTH