Jonnyboy
19-12-2020, 05:29 PM
Don’t you just hate a sucker punch? Hibs suffered one today when they should really have been out of sight before the equaliser in added time. Naturally, I’ll have to pick a man of the match but whoever that may be their contribution paled into insignificance when measured against that of United keeper Benjamin Siegrist.
With two changes in our starting eleven, Nisbet in for Gullan and Magennis in for Wright, Hibs started the game strongly and within three minutes, Doidge steered a header down towards the corner of the goal only to see the United keeper make a cracking save.
Hibs were bossing the game and after ten minutes earned a free kick some twenty yards out and I found myself wishing that Stevie Mallan were on the park. Newell looked keen but Hallberg took command and struck his effort over the wall but past the goal at the junction of bar and post. Just three minutes later a deep cross from Magennis out on the Hibs left eluded everyone and went into the net at the far post. Doidge had jumped but made no contact with his leap perhaps causing Siegrist to be in two minds.
The visitors were finding it hard to create any sort of forward threat as a high press by Hibs caused their defenders to go long. Newell and Hallberg were dominating in midfield and on more than one occasion they were able to pick out the runs of Boyle and Magennis. Siegrist came to the fore again in saving a Hallberg effort before, in a rare attack, United tested Hibs when McNulty freed Shankland but the normally prolific striker’s left footed effort was easily blocked by Marciano at his near post.
Around the twenty fifth minute United’s number one had two quite stunning saves in succession. Both were down to pure instinct with the first from a fine Doidge header and a second from another Doidge effort in the follow up.
Boyle was having a good time of it down the right where his blossoming partnership with Paul McGinn was causing United’s back three all sorts of problems. With seven minutes to go until the break, United threatened briefly when McNulty flashed a low drive past Marciano’s right hand post. At this point Hibs looked to have eased off a bit which allowed United a bit more possession, but they weren’t really making any positive use of the ball whilst at the other end, Newell struck a low drive, but it whistled past the wrong side of the post.
Looking to add to their tally, Hibs were once again foiled by Siegrist when Boyle’s low drive across the six yard line was deflected goalwards by Mark Reynolds and the keeper somehow got a hand to it to keep the ball out.
As half time approached, I couldn’t help but think we should have been three or more goals ahead. The reason we weren’t was largely down to two things. First the profligacy of Doidge’s efforts when it has to be said he’d missed a couple of decent chances and secondly because Benjamin Siegrist was on a one man mission to deny Hibs a second goal.
In the last minute of the half, McGinn beautifully cushioned a cross field pass over the head of Robson and the ball was met on the chest of Martin Boyle. The Hibs man took a stride and smashed his effort at goal. The ball was going through the diving keeper’s legs but agonisingly for Boyle it struck Siegrist on the backside and out of play for a corner.
Neither side made any changes at the break and Hibs resumed their control of the ball. Four minutes in and Boyle had an effort blocked after Hallberg had set up the chance. As is customary, Boyle was the recipient of several tough challenges and the referee flashed a card or two before Mickey Mellon decided he had to change things. He brought on both Bolton and McMullen for Edwards and Clark and changed the formation to four, four two. It took Hibs a few minutes to adjust to this as the players brought on both operated in wide positions and this created a chance for McNulty, but his effort was comfortably saved by Marciano.
United were creating more now but Hibs defended stoutly, and Marciano’s goal was never seriously threatened. Right on the hour mark, Hallberg fed Doidge, but the big striker hit his shot straight at the keeper.
As Boyle fed Nisbet on sixty five minutes the striker’s effort was too straight and easily gathered by the keeper. Hibs then changed things by replacing a tiring Magennis with Drey Wright. It was more even now in terms of possession but still United didn’t really threaten Marciano’s goal. When United brought Pawlett off the bench, Hibs reacted quickly by replacing Hallberg with Gogic. In almost his first action in the game, Gogic released Boyle down the right and as the Hibs man raced into the box he looked up and picked out Nisbet on the edge of the box, but the striker put too much on the ball in trying to sweep it into the keeper’s far corner and the effort flew wide.
Following two quite fierce Gogic challenges, both looking like bookings to me, the Hibs man finally got a yellow for another mistimed challenge. Next, ten minutes left on the clock, Boyle looked to be breaking away down the right, but he was cynically chopped down by Pawlett who was correctly booked. Soon after that, tenacious play by Nisbet saw him put Doidge through on goal but the big striker shot low and allowed Siegrist to deflect the ball for a corner. From that corner, Gogic sent a header towards goal but it was weak and easily collected by the keeper.
United were now throwing everything at Hibs but I’ll be honest I thought we would hold out because we were defending so well. As a Hibs fan I should have known better. In the first of three added minutes, good movement from McNulty saw him cut the ball back into the danger area. The ball was not going to reach one of his team mates but instead struck Joe Newell and rolled towards the far post where Luke Bolton raced in and hammered his shot home. It was a sickener for sure and made Hibs pay the penalty for all of the chances missed earlier in the game.
In my assessment of the players, it’s hard to focus on the positives and there were many but the wastefulness in front of goal is colouring my judgement of some.
The players
Marciano – Rocky only had to make a couple of comfortable saves and had absolutely no chance with the goal. If I have a gripe, it’s regarding the number of times his kicking sailed right through to Siegrist.
McGinn – A solid performance from Paul and his cushioned ball to Boyle was mouth watering. I guess he went to sleep a wee bit at the goal as he didn’t track Bolton’s movement.
Porteous – Ryan was on his game again and when facing United’s front three he never looked in any sort of danger. Rather, he looked composed and in control.
Hanlon – Like Ryan, Paul was impressive throughout and when you factor in how few chances United had it’s no surprise that he gets credit from me.
Stevenson – Like the rest of the back four, Lewis defended stoutly, and I thought it was positive that he and Magennis worked well as a team down the left flank.
Boyle – Martin looks to me as if he’s getting back to his best. Some fantastic runs down the right and his deliveries deserved better finishes from the strikers. Boyle is my man of the match.
Hallberg – I confess I was slightly surprised that he was in the starting eleven but was happy with his contribution. He and Newell seem to work well as a pair and it’s encouraging to see him get in ahead of the strikers at times.
Newell – Joe was gliding through this game and I’m aware that I was critical of him ‘gliding’ in the Alloa game. For me, the difference on this occasion is that he contributed far more attacking wise. They are nothing alike in stature, but he reminds me of SJM when he uses his body strength to shield and protect the ball in tight situations.
Magennis – Once again deployed on the left I thought he did well both defensively and in an attacking sense. It’s not 100% clear if his cross at the goal skiffed a defender’s head but no mater, it was his goal all day long.
Nisbet – One of Kevin’s quieter games I thought, and he really should have tucked away that pass from Boyle. Top marks though for winning the ball he fed to Doidge when the big fella was clean through.
Doidge – It’s bizarre this because had he kept a cooler head and had not been facing a keeper at the top of his game, Christian could have had five goals today and his inability to score cost us in the end.
Wright – Drey got twenty five minutes and really didn’t catch the eye at all. I feel the laddie’s confidence is low but once he gets past that he’ll fit in fine.
Gogic – On another day, Alex could have had two yellow cards in the space of a few minutes, but he got away with two dubious tackles before final entering the ref’s notebook.
Jack Ross – Frustrated and angry and I’m not surprised. I know the players will be hurting and hope that motivates them to put things right when we face St. Mirren.
Referee – I thought Gavin Duncan was overly lenient at times and If I was a United man, I’d be totally ticked off at his lack of application of the advantage rule.
With two changes in our starting eleven, Nisbet in for Gullan and Magennis in for Wright, Hibs started the game strongly and within three minutes, Doidge steered a header down towards the corner of the goal only to see the United keeper make a cracking save.
Hibs were bossing the game and after ten minutes earned a free kick some twenty yards out and I found myself wishing that Stevie Mallan were on the park. Newell looked keen but Hallberg took command and struck his effort over the wall but past the goal at the junction of bar and post. Just three minutes later a deep cross from Magennis out on the Hibs left eluded everyone and went into the net at the far post. Doidge had jumped but made no contact with his leap perhaps causing Siegrist to be in two minds.
The visitors were finding it hard to create any sort of forward threat as a high press by Hibs caused their defenders to go long. Newell and Hallberg were dominating in midfield and on more than one occasion they were able to pick out the runs of Boyle and Magennis. Siegrist came to the fore again in saving a Hallberg effort before, in a rare attack, United tested Hibs when McNulty freed Shankland but the normally prolific striker’s left footed effort was easily blocked by Marciano at his near post.
Around the twenty fifth minute United’s number one had two quite stunning saves in succession. Both were down to pure instinct with the first from a fine Doidge header and a second from another Doidge effort in the follow up.
Boyle was having a good time of it down the right where his blossoming partnership with Paul McGinn was causing United’s back three all sorts of problems. With seven minutes to go until the break, United threatened briefly when McNulty flashed a low drive past Marciano’s right hand post. At this point Hibs looked to have eased off a bit which allowed United a bit more possession, but they weren’t really making any positive use of the ball whilst at the other end, Newell struck a low drive, but it whistled past the wrong side of the post.
Looking to add to their tally, Hibs were once again foiled by Siegrist when Boyle’s low drive across the six yard line was deflected goalwards by Mark Reynolds and the keeper somehow got a hand to it to keep the ball out.
As half time approached, I couldn’t help but think we should have been three or more goals ahead. The reason we weren’t was largely down to two things. First the profligacy of Doidge’s efforts when it has to be said he’d missed a couple of decent chances and secondly because Benjamin Siegrist was on a one man mission to deny Hibs a second goal.
In the last minute of the half, McGinn beautifully cushioned a cross field pass over the head of Robson and the ball was met on the chest of Martin Boyle. The Hibs man took a stride and smashed his effort at goal. The ball was going through the diving keeper’s legs but agonisingly for Boyle it struck Siegrist on the backside and out of play for a corner.
Neither side made any changes at the break and Hibs resumed their control of the ball. Four minutes in and Boyle had an effort blocked after Hallberg had set up the chance. As is customary, Boyle was the recipient of several tough challenges and the referee flashed a card or two before Mickey Mellon decided he had to change things. He brought on both Bolton and McMullen for Edwards and Clark and changed the formation to four, four two. It took Hibs a few minutes to adjust to this as the players brought on both operated in wide positions and this created a chance for McNulty, but his effort was comfortably saved by Marciano.
United were creating more now but Hibs defended stoutly, and Marciano’s goal was never seriously threatened. Right on the hour mark, Hallberg fed Doidge, but the big striker hit his shot straight at the keeper.
As Boyle fed Nisbet on sixty five minutes the striker’s effort was too straight and easily gathered by the keeper. Hibs then changed things by replacing a tiring Magennis with Drey Wright. It was more even now in terms of possession but still United didn’t really threaten Marciano’s goal. When United brought Pawlett off the bench, Hibs reacted quickly by replacing Hallberg with Gogic. In almost his first action in the game, Gogic released Boyle down the right and as the Hibs man raced into the box he looked up and picked out Nisbet on the edge of the box, but the striker put too much on the ball in trying to sweep it into the keeper’s far corner and the effort flew wide.
Following two quite fierce Gogic challenges, both looking like bookings to me, the Hibs man finally got a yellow for another mistimed challenge. Next, ten minutes left on the clock, Boyle looked to be breaking away down the right, but he was cynically chopped down by Pawlett who was correctly booked. Soon after that, tenacious play by Nisbet saw him put Doidge through on goal but the big striker shot low and allowed Siegrist to deflect the ball for a corner. From that corner, Gogic sent a header towards goal but it was weak and easily collected by the keeper.
United were now throwing everything at Hibs but I’ll be honest I thought we would hold out because we were defending so well. As a Hibs fan I should have known better. In the first of three added minutes, good movement from McNulty saw him cut the ball back into the danger area. The ball was not going to reach one of his team mates but instead struck Joe Newell and rolled towards the far post where Luke Bolton raced in and hammered his shot home. It was a sickener for sure and made Hibs pay the penalty for all of the chances missed earlier in the game.
In my assessment of the players, it’s hard to focus on the positives and there were many but the wastefulness in front of goal is colouring my judgement of some.
The players
Marciano – Rocky only had to make a couple of comfortable saves and had absolutely no chance with the goal. If I have a gripe, it’s regarding the number of times his kicking sailed right through to Siegrist.
McGinn – A solid performance from Paul and his cushioned ball to Boyle was mouth watering. I guess he went to sleep a wee bit at the goal as he didn’t track Bolton’s movement.
Porteous – Ryan was on his game again and when facing United’s front three he never looked in any sort of danger. Rather, he looked composed and in control.
Hanlon – Like Ryan, Paul was impressive throughout and when you factor in how few chances United had it’s no surprise that he gets credit from me.
Stevenson – Like the rest of the back four, Lewis defended stoutly, and I thought it was positive that he and Magennis worked well as a team down the left flank.
Boyle – Martin looks to me as if he’s getting back to his best. Some fantastic runs down the right and his deliveries deserved better finishes from the strikers. Boyle is my man of the match.
Hallberg – I confess I was slightly surprised that he was in the starting eleven but was happy with his contribution. He and Newell seem to work well as a pair and it’s encouraging to see him get in ahead of the strikers at times.
Newell – Joe was gliding through this game and I’m aware that I was critical of him ‘gliding’ in the Alloa game. For me, the difference on this occasion is that he contributed far more attacking wise. They are nothing alike in stature, but he reminds me of SJM when he uses his body strength to shield and protect the ball in tight situations.
Magennis – Once again deployed on the left I thought he did well both defensively and in an attacking sense. It’s not 100% clear if his cross at the goal skiffed a defender’s head but no mater, it was his goal all day long.
Nisbet – One of Kevin’s quieter games I thought, and he really should have tucked away that pass from Boyle. Top marks though for winning the ball he fed to Doidge when the big fella was clean through.
Doidge – It’s bizarre this because had he kept a cooler head and had not been facing a keeper at the top of his game, Christian could have had five goals today and his inability to score cost us in the end.
Wright – Drey got twenty five minutes and really didn’t catch the eye at all. I feel the laddie’s confidence is low but once he gets past that he’ll fit in fine.
Gogic – On another day, Alex could have had two yellow cards in the space of a few minutes, but he got away with two dubious tackles before final entering the ref’s notebook.
Jack Ross – Frustrated and angry and I’m not surprised. I know the players will be hurting and hope that motivates them to put things right when we face St. Mirren.
Referee – I thought Gavin Duncan was overly lenient at times and If I was a United man, I’d be totally ticked off at his lack of application of the advantage rule.