Jonnyboy
20-08-2022, 04:20 PM
What an afternoon at ER, with the outcome decided by a late Josh Campbell equaliser. I thought the first half, though not great, was pretty open, at least for the first thirty minutes before a double Hibs change handed the visitors the better of possession. The second half was a belter for various reasons which I’ll cover below but my overriding feeling was that Willie Collum once again made himself the centre of attention.
Changes, some enforced, saw Lee Johnson dropping Cabraja, Kenneh, Melkersen and Tavares miss out on the starting eleven whilst Bushiri, Doyle-Hayes, Boyle and Campbell got the nod. The visitors had made noises about using their squad, with the PSV game on the horizon but as it turned out they made only two changes from the eleven that started against the Dutch.
The early exchanges saw Henderson and Bushiri penalised for fouls, and I have to say I though, even that early, Henderson looked fired up, no doubt reflecting who the opposition were. Soon after, Ryan Kent drifted in from the left and got a shot away, but the effort was wide of the target. Next, Youan was caught offside after Cadden tried to set him free before Colak took aim at the other end, but Marshall happily watched the shot fly wide.
Doyle-Hayes saw yellow for a foul on Lundstram and then a couple of minutes later Hibs made a double substitution when Henderson and Hanlon were replaced by Doidge and Cabraja. This involved a change in formation which meant Youan, and Boyle dropped deeper and wider. I confess the changes bamboozled me as for the rest of the half we handed the bulk of possession to the visitors and allowed their defenders to move up a good ten yards, safe in the knowledge that the pace of Boyle and Youan had been somewhat stunted.
Referee Collum was, as usual, keen to blow his whistle for any physical challenge and it was obvious that both benches were more than a tad frustrated by this. In between the endless stoppages, Boyle latched on to a Cabraja ball but struck his shot against a defender, bringing loud appeals from the home fans for a penalty but for once, Collum’s whistle stayed silent. The visitors had another couple of attempts, from Kent and Tavernier but neither troubled Marshall.
In the last minute of the half, Colak went down in the box with Bushiri in close attendance. I’ve not seen the incident again, but I’m convinced that Collum wasn’t even looking at it as the ball was moving away from the Hibs box at the time. If I’m right, that must mean he was advised by either his assistant or the fourth official. The ‘foul’ came as Porteous struck a pass back to Marshall and in guarding it from the lurking Colak, Rocky had somehow fouled him. Colak went down as though hit by a sniper’s bullet and Rocky was booked, despite long and loud protests from his team mates. Given his record from the spot, it was no surprise when Tavernier rifled the ball home. It was interesting listening to Sportsound on the way home as the pundits argued long and loud about whether it was a penalty or not.
Neither side made changes at the break and Hibs started the half on the front foot. Around five minutes in, a superb Campbell pass inside Tavernier freed Youan on the left and his low cross was fired into the net by Martin Boyle. It was a lovely goal, brought about by clever link up play. I have a feeling that the Youan/Boyle partnership is going to cause opposition defences a bundle of trouble in the months ahead. Shortly after the equaliser, Colak was booked for a foul on Bushiri as Hibs looked to press forward when in possession and then Porteous earned a yellow for bundling into the back of Tom Lawrence. Collum was having a field day and there was more come from him.
Hibs were pressing forward as the equaliser urged them on, but it meant we were caught out at the back. Cadden was left marking two men and that allowed the overlapping Barisic to glide a cross into the middle of the six yard box which the unmarked Lawrence bulleted past Marshall with his head. Soon after, Lawrence and Colak were replaced by Arfield and Morelos and a mere two or three minutes later, Hibs were on the break with Boyle racing away. Lundstram lunged in to stop him and caught him around the ankle. Immediately, and I admit I was surprised at the time, Collum brandished a red card and was promptly surrounded by the midfielder’s irate team mates. I’ve seen a fair few of those tackles earn a yellow, so I was indeed surprised to see red. The immediate reaction from the visitors was to replace Matondo with Davis.
They were rattled now, and Hibs began to apply pressure on their defence with both Doyle-Hayes and Doidge getting shots away but neither troubled McLaughlin. With around fifteen minutes left, the visitors were reduced to nine men when Morelos elbowed Cabraja in the face, right in front of the West Stand assistant. The Hibs players reacted angrily but before they could even confront the offender, Willie Collum raced in brandishing a red card. Around that time, Doyle-Hayes made way for Lewis Miller as Hibs set about using the width of the park against a nine man rearguard. The reaction to that was the removal of Kent for another defender, Leon King.
Hibs were all over them now and whilst I could understand some of the frustration shown by the home support, I felt it was important to not just rush at their defence but to take time and build, whilst moving them about from side to side. A succession of chances came along with Bushiri, who shot wide and Miller who brought out a stunning save from John McLaughlin first to try their luck. A rocket shot from Cabraja was straight at McLaughlin before Campbell, Porteous and Doidge all had decent half chances.
When the board went up advising of five minute still to play the fans in the home stands were roaring Hibs on and with three of the five minutes gone their support was rewarded when Doidge headed the ball down to Josh Campbell who, from the edge of the box, controlled the ball on his chest before firing a stunning left footed volley beyond the motionless McLaughlin. It was a fantastic strike and gave Hibs a more than worthy point in a game most felt would produce none.
The players – A fair few came close for my man of the match award, and I promise you my choice had been made ahead of the equaliser but for his all round display I’m giving it to Josh Campbell.
Marshall – Bizarrely, I cannot recall him having a single save to make. Beaten by a penalty and a close range header I’m struggling to recall a single shot on target from the visitors.
Cadden – Got an amount of criticism after the Livi game and he was up against it today in facing Kent with little support to help him. Even so, I felt he put in a solid ninety minutes.
Porto – Back in his right sided central defender comfort zone, Ryan was great although I’m not sure where he was for the Lawrence goal.
Bushiri – Playing on the left didn’t seem to phase him at all and this was a good ninety minutes from the big man. I may revise that if he was guilty at the penalty incident but until I see it, I’m not even convinced it was a pen.
Hanlon – Paul was having a solid enough game, but I did see him motion to the bench just ahead of him being replaced.
Henderson – Looked well fired up and I’m wondering whether he was withdrawn because he wasn’t affording enough of his time in helping Cadden at the back.
Doyle-Hayes – I reckon Jake is getting back to his best and that he put in a good shift.
Newell – People say Joe only plays well against the big teams and no one can deny he played well today, earning himself the sponsors’ man of the match award.
Campbell – For me this was his best display yet. He was popping up everywhere, defied those that say he hides by always being available for a pass and in the right areas when both defending and attacking. Oh, and that goal ……
Boyle – A bundle of energy as usual his pace and movement were a constant threat. How I loved seeing him getting across his marker for the equaliser. More of the same please.
Youan – Came close to my man of the match award. Josh did just a bit more over all, but Youan is well on the way to developing a threatening partnership with Boyle.
Cabraja – Admire the lad for playing given the circumstances and reckon he did his fair share in helping us secure a point.
Doidge – I’ll be honest, I think the big fella is way below where we need him to be.
Miller – Brought on to help stretch them he put in a couple of decent crosses.
Bojang – Only got a minute or two.
Lee Johnson – I’m sure he’ll be disappointed with some of our play but there was also a fair amount to be pleased about.
Referee – Willie Collum, I could go on about him endlessly but I for one am not going to give him the pleasure of being my centre of attention.
Changes, some enforced, saw Lee Johnson dropping Cabraja, Kenneh, Melkersen and Tavares miss out on the starting eleven whilst Bushiri, Doyle-Hayes, Boyle and Campbell got the nod. The visitors had made noises about using their squad, with the PSV game on the horizon but as it turned out they made only two changes from the eleven that started against the Dutch.
The early exchanges saw Henderson and Bushiri penalised for fouls, and I have to say I though, even that early, Henderson looked fired up, no doubt reflecting who the opposition were. Soon after, Ryan Kent drifted in from the left and got a shot away, but the effort was wide of the target. Next, Youan was caught offside after Cadden tried to set him free before Colak took aim at the other end, but Marshall happily watched the shot fly wide.
Doyle-Hayes saw yellow for a foul on Lundstram and then a couple of minutes later Hibs made a double substitution when Henderson and Hanlon were replaced by Doidge and Cabraja. This involved a change in formation which meant Youan, and Boyle dropped deeper and wider. I confess the changes bamboozled me as for the rest of the half we handed the bulk of possession to the visitors and allowed their defenders to move up a good ten yards, safe in the knowledge that the pace of Boyle and Youan had been somewhat stunted.
Referee Collum was, as usual, keen to blow his whistle for any physical challenge and it was obvious that both benches were more than a tad frustrated by this. In between the endless stoppages, Boyle latched on to a Cabraja ball but struck his shot against a defender, bringing loud appeals from the home fans for a penalty but for once, Collum’s whistle stayed silent. The visitors had another couple of attempts, from Kent and Tavernier but neither troubled Marshall.
In the last minute of the half, Colak went down in the box with Bushiri in close attendance. I’ve not seen the incident again, but I’m convinced that Collum wasn’t even looking at it as the ball was moving away from the Hibs box at the time. If I’m right, that must mean he was advised by either his assistant or the fourth official. The ‘foul’ came as Porteous struck a pass back to Marshall and in guarding it from the lurking Colak, Rocky had somehow fouled him. Colak went down as though hit by a sniper’s bullet and Rocky was booked, despite long and loud protests from his team mates. Given his record from the spot, it was no surprise when Tavernier rifled the ball home. It was interesting listening to Sportsound on the way home as the pundits argued long and loud about whether it was a penalty or not.
Neither side made changes at the break and Hibs started the half on the front foot. Around five minutes in, a superb Campbell pass inside Tavernier freed Youan on the left and his low cross was fired into the net by Martin Boyle. It was a lovely goal, brought about by clever link up play. I have a feeling that the Youan/Boyle partnership is going to cause opposition defences a bundle of trouble in the months ahead. Shortly after the equaliser, Colak was booked for a foul on Bushiri as Hibs looked to press forward when in possession and then Porteous earned a yellow for bundling into the back of Tom Lawrence. Collum was having a field day and there was more come from him.
Hibs were pressing forward as the equaliser urged them on, but it meant we were caught out at the back. Cadden was left marking two men and that allowed the overlapping Barisic to glide a cross into the middle of the six yard box which the unmarked Lawrence bulleted past Marshall with his head. Soon after, Lawrence and Colak were replaced by Arfield and Morelos and a mere two or three minutes later, Hibs were on the break with Boyle racing away. Lundstram lunged in to stop him and caught him around the ankle. Immediately, and I admit I was surprised at the time, Collum brandished a red card and was promptly surrounded by the midfielder’s irate team mates. I’ve seen a fair few of those tackles earn a yellow, so I was indeed surprised to see red. The immediate reaction from the visitors was to replace Matondo with Davis.
They were rattled now, and Hibs began to apply pressure on their defence with both Doyle-Hayes and Doidge getting shots away but neither troubled McLaughlin. With around fifteen minutes left, the visitors were reduced to nine men when Morelos elbowed Cabraja in the face, right in front of the West Stand assistant. The Hibs players reacted angrily but before they could even confront the offender, Willie Collum raced in brandishing a red card. Around that time, Doyle-Hayes made way for Lewis Miller as Hibs set about using the width of the park against a nine man rearguard. The reaction to that was the removal of Kent for another defender, Leon King.
Hibs were all over them now and whilst I could understand some of the frustration shown by the home support, I felt it was important to not just rush at their defence but to take time and build, whilst moving them about from side to side. A succession of chances came along with Bushiri, who shot wide and Miller who brought out a stunning save from John McLaughlin first to try their luck. A rocket shot from Cabraja was straight at McLaughlin before Campbell, Porteous and Doidge all had decent half chances.
When the board went up advising of five minute still to play the fans in the home stands were roaring Hibs on and with three of the five minutes gone their support was rewarded when Doidge headed the ball down to Josh Campbell who, from the edge of the box, controlled the ball on his chest before firing a stunning left footed volley beyond the motionless McLaughlin. It was a fantastic strike and gave Hibs a more than worthy point in a game most felt would produce none.
The players – A fair few came close for my man of the match award, and I promise you my choice had been made ahead of the equaliser but for his all round display I’m giving it to Josh Campbell.
Marshall – Bizarrely, I cannot recall him having a single save to make. Beaten by a penalty and a close range header I’m struggling to recall a single shot on target from the visitors.
Cadden – Got an amount of criticism after the Livi game and he was up against it today in facing Kent with little support to help him. Even so, I felt he put in a solid ninety minutes.
Porto – Back in his right sided central defender comfort zone, Ryan was great although I’m not sure where he was for the Lawrence goal.
Bushiri – Playing on the left didn’t seem to phase him at all and this was a good ninety minutes from the big man. I may revise that if he was guilty at the penalty incident but until I see it, I’m not even convinced it was a pen.
Hanlon – Paul was having a solid enough game, but I did see him motion to the bench just ahead of him being replaced.
Henderson – Looked well fired up and I’m wondering whether he was withdrawn because he wasn’t affording enough of his time in helping Cadden at the back.
Doyle-Hayes – I reckon Jake is getting back to his best and that he put in a good shift.
Newell – People say Joe only plays well against the big teams and no one can deny he played well today, earning himself the sponsors’ man of the match award.
Campbell – For me this was his best display yet. He was popping up everywhere, defied those that say he hides by always being available for a pass and in the right areas when both defending and attacking. Oh, and that goal ……
Boyle – A bundle of energy as usual his pace and movement were a constant threat. How I loved seeing him getting across his marker for the equaliser. More of the same please.
Youan – Came close to my man of the match award. Josh did just a bit more over all, but Youan is well on the way to developing a threatening partnership with Boyle.
Cabraja – Admire the lad for playing given the circumstances and reckon he did his fair share in helping us secure a point.
Doidge – I’ll be honest, I think the big fella is way below where we need him to be.
Miller – Brought on to help stretch them he put in a couple of decent crosses.
Bojang – Only got a minute or two.
Lee Johnson – I’m sure he’ll be disappointed with some of our play but there was also a fair amount to be pleased about.
Referee – Willie Collum, I could go on about him endlessly but I for one am not going to give him the pleasure of being my centre of attention.