Jonnyboy
05-08-2018, 06:28 PM
It’s been a brilliant start to the season with two European ties under the belt and a comprehensive victory in the first league game of the season. The ties against Runavik and Asteras brought excitement, goals and a feeling of contentment while this latest win, against Motherwell was achieved with a side lacking what you might label regular starters and was all the more enjoyable for that fact. When I heard the line-up I wasn’t surprised as a few of our players would surely be suffering from an amount of fatigue if not minor niggles and injuries. The introduction of Shaw, Bartley and Porteous into the starting line-up provided a very pleasant outcome with all three enjoying excellent performances.
The opening exchanges set a precedent in that Hibs took control and basically dominated their opponents although it has to be said the carving out of real chances was at a premium in the first twenty five minutes or so. Young Oli Shaw was showing up well and often took the ball in before finding a team mate whilst Martin Boyle buzzed about in his role as second striker. A few half chances were created with both Hanlon and McGinn trying their luck without threatening the Motherwell goal.
The breakthrough finally arrived around the half hour mark when Hartley used an arm to block a shot by Mallan and referee Bobby Madden (more about him later) awarded a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. Once the wall had finally settled down, Stevie Mallan struck a sweet right foot effort beyond Carson and into the net. That goal was met with a huge roar from the home crowd who followed that up with deafening applause to Jamie Maclaren heading out from the bench for a warm up. The visitors were rocking and as half time approached an exquisite curling low cross from SJM found Shaw at the back post and the youngster controlled the ball superbly before firing it behind Carson to double the Hibernian lead. Moments later a slip by Bartley allowed Cadden to get a shot away but Bogdan reacted superbly diving to his right to stop the effort from going in. In truth, it would have been a travesty to go in at 2-1 rather than 2-0 because Motherwell had offered little or no threat during the first forty five.
Manager Stephen Robinson made a double change at the break and altered the formation of his team but in truth it made little difference as within the first five minutes both Gray and Boyle had Carson scrambling. Motherwell failed to heed the warning and that allowed Boyle to finish off a superb passing move by taking a pass from Shaw before working himself across the 18 yard box and then firing low behind Carson. At 3-0 it was a fair reflection of the game and the fact that a fourth without conceding would put Hibs at the top of the table did not go unnoticed.
It seemed however that the players collectively took their foot off the gas and the visitors started to enjoy a lot more possession. Around the hour mark, Lenny decided on a double change with Gray and Mallan making way for Slivka and Maclaren, the latter getting a standing ovation as he took to the field of play. Those changes necessitated a change in formation with Boyler moving to right wing back and Maclaren joining Shaw up front. That in turn meant the out ball to Boyle was no longer an option and Hibs became a little lethargic in their approach to the game. Around the time that Hibs made their double change, Motherwell withdrew the ineffective Curtis Main and replaced him with a youngster signed from Gateshead, Danny Johnson with the new arrival looking tricky around the edge of the Hibs box.
With Hibs seemingly content to see the game out, Johnson was unlucky when he jinked free of his marker and beat Bogdan with a low shot which came back off the post. He collected the rebound, created an angle for a shot and then looked on in disbelief as Paul Hanlon got in a timely block to deflect the ball for a corner. A ‘goal’ for Motherwell was then disallowed after a hand ball in the lead up before Johnson swivelled again and watched his shot trickle wide of the upright.
Thunderous applause once again rang around Easter Road when SJM was given a much deserved break when he was replaced by Swanson. McGinn deserved the applause as he had once again proved that he will give his all for Hibs for as long as he remains here.
Hibs did have another chance to score when Stevenson and Shaw combined to set Maclaren free but Carson did well to stop the striker from scoring. Little else of note followed before Bobby Madden blew the final whistle and though I’ve been a long-time admirer of the whistler I thought he was very poor today and that final whistle was only one of a few things he got right. In the past, I’ve lauded the way he lets the game flow rather than doing a Clancy and blowing his whistle for every little thing but today he allowed some quite cynical and persistent fouls to go unpunished and generally missed a few challenges that deserved an instant reaction.
The players
Adam Bogdan – Delighted to see him continue the good form shown in Greece and had two or three excellent saves as well as commanding his box by collecting high balls into the area. It’s a slight concern that he appeared to have tweaked his groin and had to get Porteous to take his goal kicks later in the game.
Efe – What a joy to see the pipe and slippers very much back in evidence as the big fella strolled through the game. The knock he took to his knee, late on, may prove a problem but I hope not as on this form he makes the game look easy.
Ryan – Replacing big Daz is quite a job for a young lad to take on but he did so to great effect. I was delighted when, after our third and we started to ease off, he became a good old fashioned centre half and cleared the ball if there looked to be any danger.
Paul – On a day when a good number of players vied for my man of the match award I’ve no hesitation in giving it to Paul. He was immense from start to finish and almost always made good use of the ball when he had it at his feet. Main and Sammon can be a handful but he and Ryan made sure they’d go home frustrated.
SDG – I read on here that someone likened David to having a new signing and I concur. Injury problems behind him he’s returned to the sort of good form he enjoyed before that break. It was brilliant today to see him in the Motherwell box more often than his own.
Stevie Mallan – What a very clever player Mallan is. Sometimes bullied off the ball but he goes back for more and he played a number of excellent passes today as well as striking the ball superbly for the opening goal. The good news is that he’s only going to get better the more he plays.
Marv – I always think Marv has one good game and then a bad and then a good and so on. Today was very much a good game as apart from the slip late in the first half he was a beast in protecting the back three.
SJM – I heard the Radio Scotland guys raving about SJM after the game and on the evidence of his performances both today and in the European games it’s no surprise they are salivating. The laddie just oozes class, commitment and energy and it’ll be a sad day when he leaves.
Lewis – After what looked to have been a bad injury in Greece the wee man went about his business as normal today with a host of marauding runs down the left and a few key interceptions at the other end.
Boyler – I’m in the camp that Boyler is a wide player and not a striker but I felt he played the latter role quite well today. His movement is exceptional and it’s no surprise that opposing defenders double up on him though that little trick didn’t work when he scored a fine goal today.
Oli – The youngster came very close to getting my man of the match today. Led the line really well, found space really well and took his goal really well. I know there are some who feel he’s not ready for first team football yet, at least on a regular basis but I felt today that he firmly addressed the first part of that assessment. Let’s please have no more daft talk about sending him out on loan.
Slivka – Never really got into the game properly in my view although he did make one or two lung bursting runs forward. Unfortunately in releasing the ball he didn’t quite get it right.
Jamie – Looked a little ring rusty and almost set up a goal for Motherwell with a stray pass but I have no doubt he’ll soon be doing the business at the right end of the park. I read that part of the reason he returned to the club was that he feels wanted here and I’m sure that view will be reinforced in him following the rousing reception he got from the stands.
Danny – Some nice touches and one excellent run that, sadly didn’t create a chance after a timely intervention by a Motherwell defender.
The ref – Today was definitely not of Bobby Madden’s better days.
Lenny – Listened to his interview on my way home and you could actually hear him smiling!
The opening exchanges set a precedent in that Hibs took control and basically dominated their opponents although it has to be said the carving out of real chances was at a premium in the first twenty five minutes or so. Young Oli Shaw was showing up well and often took the ball in before finding a team mate whilst Martin Boyle buzzed about in his role as second striker. A few half chances were created with both Hanlon and McGinn trying their luck without threatening the Motherwell goal.
The breakthrough finally arrived around the half hour mark when Hartley used an arm to block a shot by Mallan and referee Bobby Madden (more about him later) awarded a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. Once the wall had finally settled down, Stevie Mallan struck a sweet right foot effort beyond Carson and into the net. That goal was met with a huge roar from the home crowd who followed that up with deafening applause to Jamie Maclaren heading out from the bench for a warm up. The visitors were rocking and as half time approached an exquisite curling low cross from SJM found Shaw at the back post and the youngster controlled the ball superbly before firing it behind Carson to double the Hibernian lead. Moments later a slip by Bartley allowed Cadden to get a shot away but Bogdan reacted superbly diving to his right to stop the effort from going in. In truth, it would have been a travesty to go in at 2-1 rather than 2-0 because Motherwell had offered little or no threat during the first forty five.
Manager Stephen Robinson made a double change at the break and altered the formation of his team but in truth it made little difference as within the first five minutes both Gray and Boyle had Carson scrambling. Motherwell failed to heed the warning and that allowed Boyle to finish off a superb passing move by taking a pass from Shaw before working himself across the 18 yard box and then firing low behind Carson. At 3-0 it was a fair reflection of the game and the fact that a fourth without conceding would put Hibs at the top of the table did not go unnoticed.
It seemed however that the players collectively took their foot off the gas and the visitors started to enjoy a lot more possession. Around the hour mark, Lenny decided on a double change with Gray and Mallan making way for Slivka and Maclaren, the latter getting a standing ovation as he took to the field of play. Those changes necessitated a change in formation with Boyler moving to right wing back and Maclaren joining Shaw up front. That in turn meant the out ball to Boyle was no longer an option and Hibs became a little lethargic in their approach to the game. Around the time that Hibs made their double change, Motherwell withdrew the ineffective Curtis Main and replaced him with a youngster signed from Gateshead, Danny Johnson with the new arrival looking tricky around the edge of the Hibs box.
With Hibs seemingly content to see the game out, Johnson was unlucky when he jinked free of his marker and beat Bogdan with a low shot which came back off the post. He collected the rebound, created an angle for a shot and then looked on in disbelief as Paul Hanlon got in a timely block to deflect the ball for a corner. A ‘goal’ for Motherwell was then disallowed after a hand ball in the lead up before Johnson swivelled again and watched his shot trickle wide of the upright.
Thunderous applause once again rang around Easter Road when SJM was given a much deserved break when he was replaced by Swanson. McGinn deserved the applause as he had once again proved that he will give his all for Hibs for as long as he remains here.
Hibs did have another chance to score when Stevenson and Shaw combined to set Maclaren free but Carson did well to stop the striker from scoring. Little else of note followed before Bobby Madden blew the final whistle and though I’ve been a long-time admirer of the whistler I thought he was very poor today and that final whistle was only one of a few things he got right. In the past, I’ve lauded the way he lets the game flow rather than doing a Clancy and blowing his whistle for every little thing but today he allowed some quite cynical and persistent fouls to go unpunished and generally missed a few challenges that deserved an instant reaction.
The players
Adam Bogdan – Delighted to see him continue the good form shown in Greece and had two or three excellent saves as well as commanding his box by collecting high balls into the area. It’s a slight concern that he appeared to have tweaked his groin and had to get Porteous to take his goal kicks later in the game.
Efe – What a joy to see the pipe and slippers very much back in evidence as the big fella strolled through the game. The knock he took to his knee, late on, may prove a problem but I hope not as on this form he makes the game look easy.
Ryan – Replacing big Daz is quite a job for a young lad to take on but he did so to great effect. I was delighted when, after our third and we started to ease off, he became a good old fashioned centre half and cleared the ball if there looked to be any danger.
Paul – On a day when a good number of players vied for my man of the match award I’ve no hesitation in giving it to Paul. He was immense from start to finish and almost always made good use of the ball when he had it at his feet. Main and Sammon can be a handful but he and Ryan made sure they’d go home frustrated.
SDG – I read on here that someone likened David to having a new signing and I concur. Injury problems behind him he’s returned to the sort of good form he enjoyed before that break. It was brilliant today to see him in the Motherwell box more often than his own.
Stevie Mallan – What a very clever player Mallan is. Sometimes bullied off the ball but he goes back for more and he played a number of excellent passes today as well as striking the ball superbly for the opening goal. The good news is that he’s only going to get better the more he plays.
Marv – I always think Marv has one good game and then a bad and then a good and so on. Today was very much a good game as apart from the slip late in the first half he was a beast in protecting the back three.
SJM – I heard the Radio Scotland guys raving about SJM after the game and on the evidence of his performances both today and in the European games it’s no surprise they are salivating. The laddie just oozes class, commitment and energy and it’ll be a sad day when he leaves.
Lewis – After what looked to have been a bad injury in Greece the wee man went about his business as normal today with a host of marauding runs down the left and a few key interceptions at the other end.
Boyler – I’m in the camp that Boyler is a wide player and not a striker but I felt he played the latter role quite well today. His movement is exceptional and it’s no surprise that opposing defenders double up on him though that little trick didn’t work when he scored a fine goal today.
Oli – The youngster came very close to getting my man of the match today. Led the line really well, found space really well and took his goal really well. I know there are some who feel he’s not ready for first team football yet, at least on a regular basis but I felt today that he firmly addressed the first part of that assessment. Let’s please have no more daft talk about sending him out on loan.
Slivka – Never really got into the game properly in my view although he did make one or two lung bursting runs forward. Unfortunately in releasing the ball he didn’t quite get it right.
Jamie – Looked a little ring rusty and almost set up a goal for Motherwell with a stray pass but I have no doubt he’ll soon be doing the business at the right end of the park. I read that part of the reason he returned to the club was that he feels wanted here and I’m sure that view will be reinforced in him following the rousing reception he got from the stands.
Danny – Some nice touches and one excellent run that, sadly didn’t create a chance after a timely intervention by a Motherwell defender.
The ref – Today was definitely not of Bobby Madden’s better days.
Lenny – Listened to his interview on my way home and you could actually hear him smiling!