Jonnyboy
31-01-2018, 10:44 PM
All of the talk prior to tonight’s game revolved around our movement in the transfer market and there was certainly plenty to discuss. First off was the long expected signing of Florian Kamberi on a six month loan from Grasshoppers Zurich but that was just the start of things as an amount of juggling of deals saw Scott Bain’s loan deal from Dundee being cancelled to allow the keeper to join Celtic on a permanent deal. Then it became known that Simon Murray was off to Dundee on loan to the end of the season with former Hibee Scott Allan having his loan deal from Celtic replaced by a deal to join Hibernian. Another player to leave was the very popular Liam Fontaine who signed a deal with Ross County taking him through to the end of the season. As the dust settled it seemed we were now going to have to look again for a backup keeper, meaning that Kevin Dabrowski was on the bench against Motherwell.
It was something of a surprise that Kamberi was named in the starting eleven but the big striker was soon in the thick of the action when Brandon Barker raced into the box and cut the ball back to Kamberi whose shot was net bound until Cedric Kipre cleared the ball before it crossed the line. The clearance went out for a corner and McGinn’s delivery was met at the back post by Paul Hanlon who was unlucky in seeing his header crash back of the post. With Hibs enjoying most of the possession, Motherwell were rarely seen in attack but when they did break out they looked a danger with Carl McHugh probing from midfield and the bustling Curtis Main keeping our centre backs busy.
On the half hour mark Hibs broke the deadlock when Kamberi chested the ball into the path of John McGinn. SJM’s shot was blocked but when the ball came back out to Kamberi on the edge of the box the big striker struck a ferocious drive into the net off the underside of the bar. It was a cracker and a great start for the debutant.
As the half neared its end, Allan Campbell twice had half chances to draw Motherwell level but one went wide and the other trickled through to Marciano as the Motherwell midfielder slipped on taking a shot. The first half ended with Hibs on the front foot and with referee Alan Main having had to book both Campbell and Tait for fouls on Martin Boyle. Quite how Dunne avoided a booking for a series of fouls, mostly on McGinn, is a mystery only Alan Muir could explain.
With Bartley on for Slivka, who looked to have limped off at half time, Hibs were nearly shocked by an equaliser when Campbell once again had a chance but his shot went high and wide. Within sixty seconds of that happening a glorious ball down the line from McGinn found Boyle scampering free. Squirrel reached the bye line before cutting it back to Barker who lashed the ball into the top corner of Carson’s net to secure his first goal for Hibs.
A double substitution by Motherwell saw them start to take the upper hand with Hibs strangely and collectively falling out of the game and finding the ball was mostly in their own half as they struggled to get out. It seemed that our midfield was struggling and noticeable that Kamberi had to drop deeper and deeper in order to get involved.
With a little over ten minutes left, Hibs conceded a very soft goal when a ball into the box saw Paul Hanlon allow it to bounce rather than putting it out for a corner. That indecision allowed Main to nip in and steer the ball past the advancing Marciano. Until that point Paul had been having a very good game and I’m sure he’ll be disappointed to have been caught out that way. Needless to say, Motherwell proceeded to throw everything at Hibs but the defence stood firm with Marciano making one excellent save to tip the ball over the bar.
The performance was a bit up and down I thought, with a few of our more reliable players not at their best and looking tired out but it’s results that count and the three points means we are clear in fourth place ahead of the weekend visit to Ibrox.
The players
Rocky – looked assured and dealt with pretty much everything that came his way. I’m not sure he could have done much more at the goal as he had to advance on Main to try and cut down the angle.
Efe – much more like his old self tonight and looked a million times more comfortable when he switched into the middle after McGregor went off injured.
Paul – blotted his copybook for the second game running in failing to deal decisively when he had the chance to clear. Otherwise he had a fine game but he needs to cut out these unforced errors.
Daz – although he only played for an hour before going off injured I thought he was immense and won everything in the air. His hour earns him my man of the match award.
Lewis – the wee man just wasn’t on it tonight with a few wayward passes.
Boyler – took some punishment tonight and was not always protected by the referee who seemed content to book only two of the various Motherwell players who took turns fouling him.
Slivka – only lasted the first half and looked to have taken a knock just before the interval and didn’t really get involved enough for me.
Dylan – had a great first half but seemed to drop out of things for a long spell in the second. A few wayward passes which was most un-Dylan like.
SJM – like Dylan he was great in the first half but with about twenty minutes to go he looked dead on his feet. Having said that he still played his part and must surely get fed up of the number of foul tackles he has to endure.
Brandon – I thought this was his best game yet and he seems to revel in the more central role he’s playing. Took his goal brilliantly and posed all sorts of problems with his direct running. Still not always happy to put his foot in at times.
Florian – I actually thought about giving him my man of the match award. Not because he scored on his debut but because his all round game was excellent. Holds the ball up well, brings team mates into the game and is not afraid to do the hard work either resulting in a very promising start.
Marv – played the whole of the second half and did his job well in protecting the defence.
Faycal – replaced McGregor and went to right back as Efe moved inside. Had a few chances to break away down the wing but didn’t take them although that could just be down to a lack of full match fitness.
Ryan – the big fella is so assured on the ball and can tackle for fun. Not afraid to remonstrate with his seniors and you can just tell he’s going to be some player.
Neil – haven’t heard his post-match comments but I’ll bet he was pleased we managed to avoid adding to what’s been a pretty poor run of form in home games.
The fans – it’s bizarre hearing that over 15,000 were there tonight and thinking that that now constitutes a well below average attendance!
The ref – Alan Muir is so infuriating. Failed to notice on numerous occasions that Kipre was trying to swap jersey’s with Kamberi for the whole game and yet was quick to award Motherwell free kicks when little had happened to warrant them. I guess I just have little or no time for around 90% of our games Grade 1 officials.
And finally ………… if we have indeed signed Scott Allan, I for one am delighted because he could well be the key to open up opposing defences. We’ve lacked such a player and it’s cost us on occasions because we couldn’t turn possession into goals. I’m hoping he’ll provide the passes and that Boyle, Barker and Kamberi will do the damage. I know some of us are unhappy at the way he left but that’s all water under the bridge now and it’s time to look forward, not back.
It was something of a surprise that Kamberi was named in the starting eleven but the big striker was soon in the thick of the action when Brandon Barker raced into the box and cut the ball back to Kamberi whose shot was net bound until Cedric Kipre cleared the ball before it crossed the line. The clearance went out for a corner and McGinn’s delivery was met at the back post by Paul Hanlon who was unlucky in seeing his header crash back of the post. With Hibs enjoying most of the possession, Motherwell were rarely seen in attack but when they did break out they looked a danger with Carl McHugh probing from midfield and the bustling Curtis Main keeping our centre backs busy.
On the half hour mark Hibs broke the deadlock when Kamberi chested the ball into the path of John McGinn. SJM’s shot was blocked but when the ball came back out to Kamberi on the edge of the box the big striker struck a ferocious drive into the net off the underside of the bar. It was a cracker and a great start for the debutant.
As the half neared its end, Allan Campbell twice had half chances to draw Motherwell level but one went wide and the other trickled through to Marciano as the Motherwell midfielder slipped on taking a shot. The first half ended with Hibs on the front foot and with referee Alan Main having had to book both Campbell and Tait for fouls on Martin Boyle. Quite how Dunne avoided a booking for a series of fouls, mostly on McGinn, is a mystery only Alan Muir could explain.
With Bartley on for Slivka, who looked to have limped off at half time, Hibs were nearly shocked by an equaliser when Campbell once again had a chance but his shot went high and wide. Within sixty seconds of that happening a glorious ball down the line from McGinn found Boyle scampering free. Squirrel reached the bye line before cutting it back to Barker who lashed the ball into the top corner of Carson’s net to secure his first goal for Hibs.
A double substitution by Motherwell saw them start to take the upper hand with Hibs strangely and collectively falling out of the game and finding the ball was mostly in their own half as they struggled to get out. It seemed that our midfield was struggling and noticeable that Kamberi had to drop deeper and deeper in order to get involved.
With a little over ten minutes left, Hibs conceded a very soft goal when a ball into the box saw Paul Hanlon allow it to bounce rather than putting it out for a corner. That indecision allowed Main to nip in and steer the ball past the advancing Marciano. Until that point Paul had been having a very good game and I’m sure he’ll be disappointed to have been caught out that way. Needless to say, Motherwell proceeded to throw everything at Hibs but the defence stood firm with Marciano making one excellent save to tip the ball over the bar.
The performance was a bit up and down I thought, with a few of our more reliable players not at their best and looking tired out but it’s results that count and the three points means we are clear in fourth place ahead of the weekend visit to Ibrox.
The players
Rocky – looked assured and dealt with pretty much everything that came his way. I’m not sure he could have done much more at the goal as he had to advance on Main to try and cut down the angle.
Efe – much more like his old self tonight and looked a million times more comfortable when he switched into the middle after McGregor went off injured.
Paul – blotted his copybook for the second game running in failing to deal decisively when he had the chance to clear. Otherwise he had a fine game but he needs to cut out these unforced errors.
Daz – although he only played for an hour before going off injured I thought he was immense and won everything in the air. His hour earns him my man of the match award.
Lewis – the wee man just wasn’t on it tonight with a few wayward passes.
Boyler – took some punishment tonight and was not always protected by the referee who seemed content to book only two of the various Motherwell players who took turns fouling him.
Slivka – only lasted the first half and looked to have taken a knock just before the interval and didn’t really get involved enough for me.
Dylan – had a great first half but seemed to drop out of things for a long spell in the second. A few wayward passes which was most un-Dylan like.
SJM – like Dylan he was great in the first half but with about twenty minutes to go he looked dead on his feet. Having said that he still played his part and must surely get fed up of the number of foul tackles he has to endure.
Brandon – I thought this was his best game yet and he seems to revel in the more central role he’s playing. Took his goal brilliantly and posed all sorts of problems with his direct running. Still not always happy to put his foot in at times.
Florian – I actually thought about giving him my man of the match award. Not because he scored on his debut but because his all round game was excellent. Holds the ball up well, brings team mates into the game and is not afraid to do the hard work either resulting in a very promising start.
Marv – played the whole of the second half and did his job well in protecting the defence.
Faycal – replaced McGregor and went to right back as Efe moved inside. Had a few chances to break away down the wing but didn’t take them although that could just be down to a lack of full match fitness.
Ryan – the big fella is so assured on the ball and can tackle for fun. Not afraid to remonstrate with his seniors and you can just tell he’s going to be some player.
Neil – haven’t heard his post-match comments but I’ll bet he was pleased we managed to avoid adding to what’s been a pretty poor run of form in home games.
The fans – it’s bizarre hearing that over 15,000 were there tonight and thinking that that now constitutes a well below average attendance!
The ref – Alan Muir is so infuriating. Failed to notice on numerous occasions that Kipre was trying to swap jersey’s with Kamberi for the whole game and yet was quick to award Motherwell free kicks when little had happened to warrant them. I guess I just have little or no time for around 90% of our games Grade 1 officials.
And finally ………… if we have indeed signed Scott Allan, I for one am delighted because he could well be the key to open up opposing defences. We’ve lacked such a player and it’s cost us on occasions because we couldn’t turn possession into goals. I’m hoping he’ll provide the passes and that Boyle, Barker and Kamberi will do the damage. I know some of us are unhappy at the way he left but that’s all water under the bridge now and it’s time to look forward, not back.