Jonnyboy
30-04-2022, 07:24 PM
Another week, another disappointment. I’ll be glad when this season is over because watching Hibs right now has become a chore. From a promising first half to a dire second, it was yet another Jekyll and Hyde performance and this one was against a Livingston side best described as mediocre. The annoying thing was that we had lots of decent/half chances, especially before the break but we reverted to type by having nobody in the middle to cash in on decent deliveries from out wide. Second half we huffed and puffed but you just knew that once we went a goal behind there would be no coming back, as we pretty much folded. David Gray’s words before the game that we would fight for the jerseys were well intended but not followed through by the players. Whoever the new manager is, he’ll have his work cut out unless there is major surgery to our playing staff.
With Chris Cadden missing due to injury, Josh Doig was drafted in and took up the left wing back position with Harry Clarke moving over to the right but we were slow to start and the first effort on goal came from Scott Pittman but that was blocked on its route to the target. Then, within the space of a minute, Hibs had two chances when first Joe Newell latched on to a Doig pass but saw his effort charged down before Lewis Stevenson lofted a cross to the back post, but Harry Clarke headed over from about ten tards. Next, Melkersen headed wide from a Doig cross and then Clarke shot high over the bar after a decent move down the Hibs right.
Livi were surprisingly passive and seemed content for Hibs to have the bulk of possession. Newell picked out James Scott but his shot at goal was wasteful when a pass to Melkerson may have set the Hibs youngster up. Scott was not having a good time of it and was invariably beaten in his one on ones before another Clarke cross gave the on loan Hull man another view of the Livingston goal but once again his effort was poor, and I’ll confess here that I wanted him subbed off because his contribution was pretty awful. On the half hour, Hibs had three decent chances but failed to cash in with Doig, Newell and Doyle-Hayes the culprits. To be fair to Newell, his left footed rocket beat the Livi keeper but just whistled over the bar.
Livi really were all at sea but still Hibs could not find a way through. Efforts from Clarke and Henderson were blocked, and you just knew it was going to be one of those days. With the half time whistle coming, Shinnie should have done better from close range before Hanlon and Macey got into a tangle near the 18 yard line, allowing Nouble to head the ball over the keeper but there was no strength in the attempt and Hibs were able to clear. Newell had one more chance before the half time break but once again it was blocked.
Having had the best of the first half I anticipated we’d go on to dominate in the second but that could not be further from the truth. With words from David Martindale no doubt ringing in their ears the Livi players upped the tempo considerably and Hibs were left chasing shadows. Although Scott had a shot almost from the off, Livi then took the game by the scruff of the neck and Hibs were second to almost every ball. Six minutes in, Melkersen picked up a silly yellow card for a late challenge on Devlin. One wag a few rows in front of me offered up “oh look, Melkersen is playing” and I found it hard to disagree with the sentiment because Elias had spent the whole first half facing his own goal and offering no threat to the Livi defence.
Ten minutes into the half, Scott fouled Kelly wide on the Livi left and then McGinn conceded a throw in which he and Harry Clarke failed to defend, allowing Shinnie time to pick out Pittman on the 18 yard line. Stevenson rushed out to challenge but didn’t get there and Pittman had Macey diving the wrong way as he fired the ball home. A few minutes later, Jasper replaced Scott and the only disappointment for me in that change is that it wasn’t made far earlier. Nouble, who had been battering Hanlon almost from the off, then had a shot easily saved by Macey. The chance had been set up by the impressive Morgan Boyes who wore the number 15 shirt and had a fine game.
With Forrest on for Bailey, Livi went about looking for a second goal and were almost presented with one when a quite shocking ball across the 18 yard box by Newell was pounced upon by Forrest who had the whole goal to aim at but shot wide possibly due to an intervention by Stevenson. Next, Henderson crossed low from the right and Melkersen tried to divert the ball past the home goalie but saw his effort fly wide of the post. A Stevenson cross from the left saw Henderson get a header away but it was just too high to trouble the keeper.
Stevenson, who had been limping a bit after that challenge on Forrest, was then replaced by Demi Mitchell who made his first appearance in a long time after a lengthy injury delay, but the clock was running down and Livi had things well under control. A shocking Pittman challenge on Jasper drew a deserved yellow card and moments later, Forrest was allowed to run right across the face of the 18 yard box before firing a fierce left footed effort which Macey did well to tip over the bar. In time added on, Henderson and the loathsome Jason Holt were booked after a bit of handbags and then Kelly joined them in the book after a crude challenge on Mitchell.
This was a hugely frustrating performance from Hibs and highlighted the need for major surgery in the summer. Creating chances was fine in the first half but what’s the point when there’s no-one in the middle to get on the end of them. Twice Harry Clarke broke free and twice he had only a marked Melkerson to aim for in the middle as Scott was missing and neither of our two central midfielders rushed forward into the box. The second half was shocking and overall, there was only a couple of players who did their jobs well.
The players
Macey – Left unprotected for their goal as Hanlon and McGinn ball watched from a wide position. At least he came for high balls and really didn’t have a lot to do other than the late save from a Forrest strike.
McGinn – Paul had a decent first half but along with the rest of them had a shocker in the second.
Hanlon – There’s been a bit of a debate around him, and today’s performance is likely to result in yet more debate as he was battered throughout by the giant Nouble as well as being posted missing for the goal.
Stevenson – One of only three players I’d award pass marks and there is an irony in pointing out that Lewis twice beat Nouble in the air which is kinda twice more than Paul Hanlon did.
Clarke – Harry had a good first half and got a few shots away but sadly none on target as he opted to shoot when there was no-one in the box to pick out.
Doyle-Hayes – The best of our midfield two and did well enough in the first half but shaded off in the second.
Newell – Not one Joe will want to watch as he continually gave the ball away and that ‘pass’ across the 18 yard line was criminal. He seemed more intent at times in having his own little private war with Holt and Pittman.
Doig - Had some good runs in the first half and at least he kept going to the end in terms of trying to put decent crosses in to the box.
Henderson – For me, Ewan was the only player driving forward for pretty much the whole game. His reading of the game is good, and he can pick a pass with the best of them. My man of the match.
Melkersen – Playing with your back to the goal severely limits the number of shots you are going to get away. He did that for most of the game and if he’s going to play, he needs a strike partner to share the workload.
Scott – I’ve both criticised him and praised him in the past but today he was just woeful, truly horrendous. Please send him back to Hull and start a player who’s going to be here next season.
Jasper – Didn’t really see a lot of the ball in the half hour he got and I’m not sure the artificial surface suits his game.
Mitchell – Good to see him back and fit again.
SDG – Must have been relatively pleased with the first half but appalled by the offering in the second – I know I was.
Referee – I’ve never seen Chris Graham ref a game before. The thing that drew my attention the most was that he must have the loudest whistle in the SPFL.
With Chris Cadden missing due to injury, Josh Doig was drafted in and took up the left wing back position with Harry Clarke moving over to the right but we were slow to start and the first effort on goal came from Scott Pittman but that was blocked on its route to the target. Then, within the space of a minute, Hibs had two chances when first Joe Newell latched on to a Doig pass but saw his effort charged down before Lewis Stevenson lofted a cross to the back post, but Harry Clarke headed over from about ten tards. Next, Melkersen headed wide from a Doig cross and then Clarke shot high over the bar after a decent move down the Hibs right.
Livi were surprisingly passive and seemed content for Hibs to have the bulk of possession. Newell picked out James Scott but his shot at goal was wasteful when a pass to Melkerson may have set the Hibs youngster up. Scott was not having a good time of it and was invariably beaten in his one on ones before another Clarke cross gave the on loan Hull man another view of the Livingston goal but once again his effort was poor, and I’ll confess here that I wanted him subbed off because his contribution was pretty awful. On the half hour, Hibs had three decent chances but failed to cash in with Doig, Newell and Doyle-Hayes the culprits. To be fair to Newell, his left footed rocket beat the Livi keeper but just whistled over the bar.
Livi really were all at sea but still Hibs could not find a way through. Efforts from Clarke and Henderson were blocked, and you just knew it was going to be one of those days. With the half time whistle coming, Shinnie should have done better from close range before Hanlon and Macey got into a tangle near the 18 yard line, allowing Nouble to head the ball over the keeper but there was no strength in the attempt and Hibs were able to clear. Newell had one more chance before the half time break but once again it was blocked.
Having had the best of the first half I anticipated we’d go on to dominate in the second but that could not be further from the truth. With words from David Martindale no doubt ringing in their ears the Livi players upped the tempo considerably and Hibs were left chasing shadows. Although Scott had a shot almost from the off, Livi then took the game by the scruff of the neck and Hibs were second to almost every ball. Six minutes in, Melkersen picked up a silly yellow card for a late challenge on Devlin. One wag a few rows in front of me offered up “oh look, Melkersen is playing” and I found it hard to disagree with the sentiment because Elias had spent the whole first half facing his own goal and offering no threat to the Livi defence.
Ten minutes into the half, Scott fouled Kelly wide on the Livi left and then McGinn conceded a throw in which he and Harry Clarke failed to defend, allowing Shinnie time to pick out Pittman on the 18 yard line. Stevenson rushed out to challenge but didn’t get there and Pittman had Macey diving the wrong way as he fired the ball home. A few minutes later, Jasper replaced Scott and the only disappointment for me in that change is that it wasn’t made far earlier. Nouble, who had been battering Hanlon almost from the off, then had a shot easily saved by Macey. The chance had been set up by the impressive Morgan Boyes who wore the number 15 shirt and had a fine game.
With Forrest on for Bailey, Livi went about looking for a second goal and were almost presented with one when a quite shocking ball across the 18 yard box by Newell was pounced upon by Forrest who had the whole goal to aim at but shot wide possibly due to an intervention by Stevenson. Next, Henderson crossed low from the right and Melkersen tried to divert the ball past the home goalie but saw his effort fly wide of the post. A Stevenson cross from the left saw Henderson get a header away but it was just too high to trouble the keeper.
Stevenson, who had been limping a bit after that challenge on Forrest, was then replaced by Demi Mitchell who made his first appearance in a long time after a lengthy injury delay, but the clock was running down and Livi had things well under control. A shocking Pittman challenge on Jasper drew a deserved yellow card and moments later, Forrest was allowed to run right across the face of the 18 yard box before firing a fierce left footed effort which Macey did well to tip over the bar. In time added on, Henderson and the loathsome Jason Holt were booked after a bit of handbags and then Kelly joined them in the book after a crude challenge on Mitchell.
This was a hugely frustrating performance from Hibs and highlighted the need for major surgery in the summer. Creating chances was fine in the first half but what’s the point when there’s no-one in the middle to get on the end of them. Twice Harry Clarke broke free and twice he had only a marked Melkerson to aim for in the middle as Scott was missing and neither of our two central midfielders rushed forward into the box. The second half was shocking and overall, there was only a couple of players who did their jobs well.
The players
Macey – Left unprotected for their goal as Hanlon and McGinn ball watched from a wide position. At least he came for high balls and really didn’t have a lot to do other than the late save from a Forrest strike.
McGinn – Paul had a decent first half but along with the rest of them had a shocker in the second.
Hanlon – There’s been a bit of a debate around him, and today’s performance is likely to result in yet more debate as he was battered throughout by the giant Nouble as well as being posted missing for the goal.
Stevenson – One of only three players I’d award pass marks and there is an irony in pointing out that Lewis twice beat Nouble in the air which is kinda twice more than Paul Hanlon did.
Clarke – Harry had a good first half and got a few shots away but sadly none on target as he opted to shoot when there was no-one in the box to pick out.
Doyle-Hayes – The best of our midfield two and did well enough in the first half but shaded off in the second.
Newell – Not one Joe will want to watch as he continually gave the ball away and that ‘pass’ across the 18 yard line was criminal. He seemed more intent at times in having his own little private war with Holt and Pittman.
Doig - Had some good runs in the first half and at least he kept going to the end in terms of trying to put decent crosses in to the box.
Henderson – For me, Ewan was the only player driving forward for pretty much the whole game. His reading of the game is good, and he can pick a pass with the best of them. My man of the match.
Melkersen – Playing with your back to the goal severely limits the number of shots you are going to get away. He did that for most of the game and if he’s going to play, he needs a strike partner to share the workload.
Scott – I’ve both criticised him and praised him in the past but today he was just woeful, truly horrendous. Please send him back to Hull and start a player who’s going to be here next season.
Jasper – Didn’t really see a lot of the ball in the half hour he got and I’m not sure the artificial surface suits his game.
Mitchell – Good to see him back and fit again.
SDG – Must have been relatively pleased with the first half but appalled by the offering in the second – I know I was.
Referee – I’ve never seen Chris Graham ref a game before. The thing that drew my attention the most was that he must have the loudest whistle in the SPFL.