Jonnyboy
28-08-2021, 06:19 PM
Arriving at Easter Road today and being part of our first ‘full house’ in some 16 months almost brought a tear to my eye. Of course, it wasn’t really a full house but it’s the closest we’ve been to one since Covid brought massive changes to our everyday lives. It was an emotional experience, being back in my own seat and looking out on an Easter Road bathed in sunshine. It was also emotional singing along to Sunshine on Leith just before the players came out of the tunnel. That song never fails to ensure the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up.
Jack Ross set up his side in a fluid formation that moved from a standard 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 depending on the flow of the game. James Scott made his home debut and was the one most likely to join Nisbet when we were attacking whilst Boyle and Murphy provided good width, safe in the knowledge that Magennis and Doyle-Hayes were minding the back door.
The match started relatively slowly although Scott had a first minute effort blocked, and Fitzwater shot wide for the visitors in the first five minutes. There were two things I quickly identified, the first being that Livi were quick to close us down with both Boyle and Murphy double marked whilst our defenders were hurried when in possession at the back. The second thing was that almost from the off, Livi were wasting time – incredible and presumably they were sent out to defend the point they started with.
Without fully dominating the opposition, Hibs were mainly in control in the first half and created the odd chance without really troubling the Livi keeper. Boyle flashed a shot wide and then Doig set up a chance for Magennis, but the midfielder’s effort was blocked. Boyle was thwarted again when Nisbet set him up whilst at the other end Livi won a couple of corners that came to nothing. As half time approached, referee Steven McLean who had infuriated both sets of supporters with some frankly bizarre decisions was roundly booed by the Hibs support as he ignored an injury to Jamie Murphy, even after the ball had gone out and was thrown back into play. As it turned out, Murphy, who seemed to hurt himself by overstretching to win a ball had to go off and was replaced by Scott Allan.
Five minutes into the second half, Livi had to replace centre back Fitzwater and within a couple of minutes of replacing his injured team mate, Sean Kelly was turned inside out by Kevin Nisbet who broke free and steered a left footed effort into the Livi net. The goal move started with McGinn who noticed excellent movement from Nisbet and curled a fine pass down the line to the striker. Kev’s touch and movement was first class and the finish excellent.
You’d have been forgiven for thinking that Livi had now to change their approach to the game but to me there was little difference in how they approached things. On the hour mark, a silly challenge by Porteous some twenty yards out allowed former Hibee Andy Shinnie the opportunity of a strike at goal from the free kick but his effort was poor and hit the wall. For a few minutes Livi enjoyed a bit of possession and both Shinnie and Forrest had efforts but neither reached Macey who had been largely untroubled throughout.
With twenty minutes left, Nisbet went down clutching his calf and was replaced by Drey Wright. The new man took over the wide left position from James Scott who had occupied it since the departure of Murphy. Scott moved into the central striker role and looked more at home there. Hibs were enjoying the bulk of possession and were dominating the midfield with Magennis the stand out there.
After a series of foul challenges by both sets of players, Steven McLean finally found his yellow card which he showed to Shinnie for a challenge that looked quite tame compared to a number of those that had gone unpunished. Scott Allan was putting in a good shift and set up Doyle-Hayes twice within a minute or so but both attempts at goal were blocked. Next to try his luck was Drey Wright when Doig cushioned a header into his path, and you just felt a second goal was imminent. With a minute of normal time left, that goal arrived when a lovely pass by Scott Allan set Boyle free in the box. Boyler raced in on the angle and lifted a lovely effort over the diving keeper and into the net. Moments later, Dan MacKay who was on for Scott, steered a headed effort on target but the Livi keeper saved in the centre of goal.
Granted, this was not a sparkling performance by Hibs, but every man did his job, and two quality goals secured the points to keep at the top of the pile.
The players
Macey – Should have paid to get in as he was every bit as much of a spectator as the rest of us.
McGinn – I thought Paul looked to be regaining his form today and his measured pass to Nisbet for the opening goal is worthy of mention.
McGregor – I honestly believe there was not one header he failed to win today. Daz does that job better than most in our league, I reckon.
Porteous – Ryan had a good ninety, with the exception of one or two daft moments when he conceded a needless free kick and then strode purposefully out of defence only to make a shocking pass right to the feet of Craig Sibbald.
Doig – Recently, we’ve given away cheap goals at our back post, but I recall only one second of worry in that regard when he was beaten in the jump. Otherwise, he played well and had another of those lung bursting runs at the opposition defenders only to be crowded out at the last minute.
Doyle-Hayes – The lad went about his business well today and showed often that he is quite comfortable on the ball in pressure situations.
Magennis – I worried that Kyle might not be as much of a threat up front as he has been of late but with Jack deploying two strikers, the laddie was sitting further back, and he was outstanding today. Also, whilst he might lack a bit of pace, his strength and positional awareness mostly make up for that. My man of the match.
Boyle – For the majority of the first half he was double and sometimes triple marked and yet he still offered a couple of decent deliveries into the box. Getting a bit more space in the second half he terrorised their defenders at times and his finish for the second goal was exquisite.
Scott – James is a big lad but mobile with it and whilst I thought he played better at Dens Park than he did today, he showed enough to suggest he’s a decent addition to the squad.
Nisbet – I hope and pray we can sort out a contract to keep him. His movement off the ball is tremendous; he has a good first touch in the main and he can score a goal when the odds are against it, proving that today with a fantastic first touch and a sweet finish.
Murphy – Jamie was doing just fine until he overstretched for a ball and injured himself in the process. The poor guy has such a lot of bad luck with injury, and I fear we might not see him again for a few weeks.
Allan – There’s been much debate about Scotty of late, but I felt he showed enough today to dispel any thoughts of him being moved on. Twice ahead of the second goal he set up team mates and for the goal itself his pass was a thing of both beauty and simplicity. If he does that a few times in a game, I’d rather he did it when wearing a Hibs strip.
Wright – Drey was perfectly fine this afternoon and it saddened me to hear loud groans when one pass just missed reaching its target. The target was Ryan Porteous who hoofed the ball sixty yards into the FF Lower and he got a cheer for that!
MacKay – Dan only got a couple of minutes but took up a good position for a cross and might have had better luck with his header on goal.
Jack Ross – Got the set up and selection spot on and will be delighted with the outcome.
Referee – Steven McLean was horrendous today, for both teams. I’ve mentioned before this new directive to referees and today McLean kinda proved my point that the changes simply cause problems because each referee will interpret them differently.
Jack Ross set up his side in a fluid formation that moved from a standard 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 depending on the flow of the game. James Scott made his home debut and was the one most likely to join Nisbet when we were attacking whilst Boyle and Murphy provided good width, safe in the knowledge that Magennis and Doyle-Hayes were minding the back door.
The match started relatively slowly although Scott had a first minute effort blocked, and Fitzwater shot wide for the visitors in the first five minutes. There were two things I quickly identified, the first being that Livi were quick to close us down with both Boyle and Murphy double marked whilst our defenders were hurried when in possession at the back. The second thing was that almost from the off, Livi were wasting time – incredible and presumably they were sent out to defend the point they started with.
Without fully dominating the opposition, Hibs were mainly in control in the first half and created the odd chance without really troubling the Livi keeper. Boyle flashed a shot wide and then Doig set up a chance for Magennis, but the midfielder’s effort was blocked. Boyle was thwarted again when Nisbet set him up whilst at the other end Livi won a couple of corners that came to nothing. As half time approached, referee Steven McLean who had infuriated both sets of supporters with some frankly bizarre decisions was roundly booed by the Hibs support as he ignored an injury to Jamie Murphy, even after the ball had gone out and was thrown back into play. As it turned out, Murphy, who seemed to hurt himself by overstretching to win a ball had to go off and was replaced by Scott Allan.
Five minutes into the second half, Livi had to replace centre back Fitzwater and within a couple of minutes of replacing his injured team mate, Sean Kelly was turned inside out by Kevin Nisbet who broke free and steered a left footed effort into the Livi net. The goal move started with McGinn who noticed excellent movement from Nisbet and curled a fine pass down the line to the striker. Kev’s touch and movement was first class and the finish excellent.
You’d have been forgiven for thinking that Livi had now to change their approach to the game but to me there was little difference in how they approached things. On the hour mark, a silly challenge by Porteous some twenty yards out allowed former Hibee Andy Shinnie the opportunity of a strike at goal from the free kick but his effort was poor and hit the wall. For a few minutes Livi enjoyed a bit of possession and both Shinnie and Forrest had efforts but neither reached Macey who had been largely untroubled throughout.
With twenty minutes left, Nisbet went down clutching his calf and was replaced by Drey Wright. The new man took over the wide left position from James Scott who had occupied it since the departure of Murphy. Scott moved into the central striker role and looked more at home there. Hibs were enjoying the bulk of possession and were dominating the midfield with Magennis the stand out there.
After a series of foul challenges by both sets of players, Steven McLean finally found his yellow card which he showed to Shinnie for a challenge that looked quite tame compared to a number of those that had gone unpunished. Scott Allan was putting in a good shift and set up Doyle-Hayes twice within a minute or so but both attempts at goal were blocked. Next to try his luck was Drey Wright when Doig cushioned a header into his path, and you just felt a second goal was imminent. With a minute of normal time left, that goal arrived when a lovely pass by Scott Allan set Boyle free in the box. Boyler raced in on the angle and lifted a lovely effort over the diving keeper and into the net. Moments later, Dan MacKay who was on for Scott, steered a headed effort on target but the Livi keeper saved in the centre of goal.
Granted, this was not a sparkling performance by Hibs, but every man did his job, and two quality goals secured the points to keep at the top of the pile.
The players
Macey – Should have paid to get in as he was every bit as much of a spectator as the rest of us.
McGinn – I thought Paul looked to be regaining his form today and his measured pass to Nisbet for the opening goal is worthy of mention.
McGregor – I honestly believe there was not one header he failed to win today. Daz does that job better than most in our league, I reckon.
Porteous – Ryan had a good ninety, with the exception of one or two daft moments when he conceded a needless free kick and then strode purposefully out of defence only to make a shocking pass right to the feet of Craig Sibbald.
Doig – Recently, we’ve given away cheap goals at our back post, but I recall only one second of worry in that regard when he was beaten in the jump. Otherwise, he played well and had another of those lung bursting runs at the opposition defenders only to be crowded out at the last minute.
Doyle-Hayes – The lad went about his business well today and showed often that he is quite comfortable on the ball in pressure situations.
Magennis – I worried that Kyle might not be as much of a threat up front as he has been of late but with Jack deploying two strikers, the laddie was sitting further back, and he was outstanding today. Also, whilst he might lack a bit of pace, his strength and positional awareness mostly make up for that. My man of the match.
Boyle – For the majority of the first half he was double and sometimes triple marked and yet he still offered a couple of decent deliveries into the box. Getting a bit more space in the second half he terrorised their defenders at times and his finish for the second goal was exquisite.
Scott – James is a big lad but mobile with it and whilst I thought he played better at Dens Park than he did today, he showed enough to suggest he’s a decent addition to the squad.
Nisbet – I hope and pray we can sort out a contract to keep him. His movement off the ball is tremendous; he has a good first touch in the main and he can score a goal when the odds are against it, proving that today with a fantastic first touch and a sweet finish.
Murphy – Jamie was doing just fine until he overstretched for a ball and injured himself in the process. The poor guy has such a lot of bad luck with injury, and I fear we might not see him again for a few weeks.
Allan – There’s been much debate about Scotty of late, but I felt he showed enough today to dispel any thoughts of him being moved on. Twice ahead of the second goal he set up team mates and for the goal itself his pass was a thing of both beauty and simplicity. If he does that a few times in a game, I’d rather he did it when wearing a Hibs strip.
Wright – Drey was perfectly fine this afternoon and it saddened me to hear loud groans when one pass just missed reaching its target. The target was Ryan Porteous who hoofed the ball sixty yards into the FF Lower and he got a cheer for that!
MacKay – Dan only got a couple of minutes but took up a good position for a cross and might have had better luck with his header on goal.
Jack Ross – Got the set up and selection spot on and will be delighted with the outcome.
Referee – Steven McLean was horrendous today, for both teams. I’ve mentioned before this new directive to referees and today McLean kinda proved my point that the changes simply cause problems because each referee will interpret them differently.