Jonnyboy
18-02-2023, 07:44 PM
An impressive goal scoring first half performance and an early second half goal was enough to see Hibs earn an important three points, resulting in a move up to fourth in the table. A clean sheet was also enjoyed and the guys at the back deserved that reward. With Joe Newell absent, Lee Johnson surprised many by playing CJ Egan-Riley in a midfield role whilst starting places were also given to Cadden, Cabraja and Henderson.
Hibs started the game strongly and inside the first five minutes, Campbell flashed a shot just wide of the target and then the hosts won a series of corners forcing Killie to defend in depth. Around the ten minute mark there was an incredible spell of pressure as Youan, Cabraja and Cadden all forced Killie keeper Sam Walker into impressive stops. A minute later, Killie might have snatched the lead when Jones fired in a front post cross that Chris Stokes met on the half volley but David Marshall was alert to the danger and made an instinctive save, sending the ball over the bar.
McGeady and Youan were causing all sorts of bother but Killie were resolute and denied them both shots on goal but in the sixteenth minute, Stokes needlessly conceded a corner which McGeady fired into the box allowing Will Fish to outjump Mayo and bullet the ball past Sam Walker. The visitors were finding it hard to close down a Hibs side that always seemed to have an extra man to pick out for a pass and on more than one occasion, Walker was there to make crucial saves. In a rare foray forward, Vassell almost punished Hibs with a header that sailed wide and there was a bit of an inquest as Hanlon and Co., debated who had left the Killie man unmarked.
Campbell and Henderson were having fine games and Youan was unlucky when, after Campbell had set up the chance, Walker saved a thunderbolt of a shot destined for the top corner of the net. Soon after, Egan-Riley set up Henderson but the latter was thwarted by yet another fine save from Walker. Henderson was denied a goal moments later when Youan set him up but despite Henderson firing the ball past Walker, Wright was on the line to boot the ball clear. At the other end, Hibs defended a corner well and Aiden McGeady was set free on the left by David Marshall. McGeady had acres of room to run into but three or four strides later he pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury, causing him to be replaced by Matthew Hoppe.
With half time approaching, Walker again denied Hibs with a couple of good saves, first from Cadden and then Campbell. It is no exaggeration to suggest Hibs could have had four goals by this stage but excellent goalkeeping and perhaps a lack of composure from the home men meant it was a single goal lead going into the interval.
Hibs made no changes at the break whilst Killie withdrew Stokes, Alston and Jones, replacing them with Taylor, Polworth and Robinson, Derek McInnes clearly having set a plan to get back into the game. Two minutes later, that plan was severely dented when a lovely dinked pass from Henderson found Jeggo whose low ball into the middle wasn’t cleared and Matthew Hoppe pounced to prod the ball over the line from close range. That should have prompted Hibs to relax a bit and settle into a pattern that would see them pushing Killie back but instead it seemed to galvanise the visitors and they began to enjoy more meaningful possession. Polworth and McKenzie both got shots away with the first blocked and the second bringing a save out of Marshall.
On the hour mark, Hoppe found space at the edge of the box but dragged his shot wide of the far post and then Youan worked some trickery before feeding Henderson but the latter found Walker in good form again and the chance of a third goal was lost. Not long after that, Henderson who had worked his socks off was replaced by Kyle Magennis. It was heartening to witness the warm applause Henderson received as he departed. Around six minutes later, Vassell showed a high boot as he went into a challenge with Cabraja, and referee John Beaton issued a yellow card to the Killie man. Beaton was then alerted by the VAR official that the card might possibly need to be red and after consulting the pitchside monitor Beaton did indeed cancel the yellow and show a straight red. I sit high in the East Stand and didn’t see the actual challenge clearly, so I don’t know whether the ultimate decision was correct but the fact that Cabraja had stayed on his feet and that even the home fans were booing the decision perhaps suggest the punishment was wrong. What really annoyed me about this episode was that once again it seems that the VAR official was refereeing the game and not John Beaton.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hibs set about trying to make use of their man advantage and both Jeggo and Campbell had shots saved before Fish’s effort from close range was blocked. To be fair to Killie, they didn’t just drop deep and looked to get on the front foot when the opportunity arose and with fifteen minutes left, McInnes threw on another fresh set of legs in Ryan Alebiosu who replaced a limping Danny Armstrong. Cabraja was then shown a yellow for hauling back Joe Wright before Hoppe missed a glorious chance which, if anything, was clearer than the one he scored.
Hibs then made a triple change with Miller, Doyle-Hayes and Tavares replacing Cabraja, Jeggo and Cadden which, I thought at the time might be just a little bit of a gamble but turned out not to be in the end. Killie had one last throw of the dice in terms of personnel when they replaced Brad Lyons with Alan Power but before they could benefit from it Youan should have put the game to bed but was wasteful with the opportunity. In time added on, a long ball caught Hanlon out and Robinson skipped away from him, shot under the diving Marshall but was thwarted by a goal line clearance from Egan-Riley allowing Hibs another three points and, impressively, another clean sheet.
The players
Marshall – A fantastic instinctive save early on and a few run of the mill ones helped him keep a deserved clean sheet.
Cadden – Fine going forward but caught out a few times in defence. It was interesting in the second half when Killie concentrated on attacking down their left that Cadden was moved forward and replaced by Egan-Riley.
Fish – Absolutely rock solid and he can ping a pass at times too. Came very close to getting my man of the match award.
Hanlon – Other than that late mistake as the ball sailed over his head I thought he was fine and it is clear how much he and Fish communicate with each other.
Cabraja – Not always the best defensively, he was largely ok and managed to get forward quite often.
Egan-Riley – A polished performance from a guy that is clearly a fine footballer. Whether in midfield or defence he was excellent and wins my man of the match award.
Jeggo – Dare I say he fits the Matty Jack role well? Breaks play up and plays sensible passes in order to retain possession.
Henderson – This was the Ewan Henderson I want to see more of. Fantastic first half and played with confidence rather than letting his shoulders slump when things don’t go quite right for him.
Campbell – 100% effort from first ‘til last and a fair few telling passes and tackles. Am delighted he’s beeen rewarded with a contract extension.
McGeady – I’ll be honest and say I was getting frustrated with him as his tricky footwork sometimes baffled him rather than his marker. Sorry to see him off injured though.
Youan – How do I sum him up? He is a delight/joy to watch as he takes on multiple defenders in tight situations and still comes out with the ball at his feet. However, why did he delay getting a shot away on so many occasions?
Hoppe – In the right place at the right time for his goal but should have had two.
Magennis – Looked a bit ring rusty which is not surprising really.
Miller – Looked more mobile than the last time I saw him.
Tavares – Was crunched in an early tackle but got up and got on with it.
Doyle-Hayes – Like Magennis, looked ring rusty.
Lee Johnson – We can’t fault the run we are on and he deserves his fair share of the credit.
Referee – John Beaton – Some frankly bewildering decisions and that’s apart from the red card which has been universally ridiculed by the Sportsound ‘experts’.
Hibs started the game strongly and inside the first five minutes, Campbell flashed a shot just wide of the target and then the hosts won a series of corners forcing Killie to defend in depth. Around the ten minute mark there was an incredible spell of pressure as Youan, Cabraja and Cadden all forced Killie keeper Sam Walker into impressive stops. A minute later, Killie might have snatched the lead when Jones fired in a front post cross that Chris Stokes met on the half volley but David Marshall was alert to the danger and made an instinctive save, sending the ball over the bar.
McGeady and Youan were causing all sorts of bother but Killie were resolute and denied them both shots on goal but in the sixteenth minute, Stokes needlessly conceded a corner which McGeady fired into the box allowing Will Fish to outjump Mayo and bullet the ball past Sam Walker. The visitors were finding it hard to close down a Hibs side that always seemed to have an extra man to pick out for a pass and on more than one occasion, Walker was there to make crucial saves. In a rare foray forward, Vassell almost punished Hibs with a header that sailed wide and there was a bit of an inquest as Hanlon and Co., debated who had left the Killie man unmarked.
Campbell and Henderson were having fine games and Youan was unlucky when, after Campbell had set up the chance, Walker saved a thunderbolt of a shot destined for the top corner of the net. Soon after, Egan-Riley set up Henderson but the latter was thwarted by yet another fine save from Walker. Henderson was denied a goal moments later when Youan set him up but despite Henderson firing the ball past Walker, Wright was on the line to boot the ball clear. At the other end, Hibs defended a corner well and Aiden McGeady was set free on the left by David Marshall. McGeady had acres of room to run into but three or four strides later he pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury, causing him to be replaced by Matthew Hoppe.
With half time approaching, Walker again denied Hibs with a couple of good saves, first from Cadden and then Campbell. It is no exaggeration to suggest Hibs could have had four goals by this stage but excellent goalkeeping and perhaps a lack of composure from the home men meant it was a single goal lead going into the interval.
Hibs made no changes at the break whilst Killie withdrew Stokes, Alston and Jones, replacing them with Taylor, Polworth and Robinson, Derek McInnes clearly having set a plan to get back into the game. Two minutes later, that plan was severely dented when a lovely dinked pass from Henderson found Jeggo whose low ball into the middle wasn’t cleared and Matthew Hoppe pounced to prod the ball over the line from close range. That should have prompted Hibs to relax a bit and settle into a pattern that would see them pushing Killie back but instead it seemed to galvanise the visitors and they began to enjoy more meaningful possession. Polworth and McKenzie both got shots away with the first blocked and the second bringing a save out of Marshall.
On the hour mark, Hoppe found space at the edge of the box but dragged his shot wide of the far post and then Youan worked some trickery before feeding Henderson but the latter found Walker in good form again and the chance of a third goal was lost. Not long after that, Henderson who had worked his socks off was replaced by Kyle Magennis. It was heartening to witness the warm applause Henderson received as he departed. Around six minutes later, Vassell showed a high boot as he went into a challenge with Cabraja, and referee John Beaton issued a yellow card to the Killie man. Beaton was then alerted by the VAR official that the card might possibly need to be red and after consulting the pitchside monitor Beaton did indeed cancel the yellow and show a straight red. I sit high in the East Stand and didn’t see the actual challenge clearly, so I don’t know whether the ultimate decision was correct but the fact that Cabraja had stayed on his feet and that even the home fans were booing the decision perhaps suggest the punishment was wrong. What really annoyed me about this episode was that once again it seems that the VAR official was refereeing the game and not John Beaton.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hibs set about trying to make use of their man advantage and both Jeggo and Campbell had shots saved before Fish’s effort from close range was blocked. To be fair to Killie, they didn’t just drop deep and looked to get on the front foot when the opportunity arose and with fifteen minutes left, McInnes threw on another fresh set of legs in Ryan Alebiosu who replaced a limping Danny Armstrong. Cabraja was then shown a yellow for hauling back Joe Wright before Hoppe missed a glorious chance which, if anything, was clearer than the one he scored.
Hibs then made a triple change with Miller, Doyle-Hayes and Tavares replacing Cabraja, Jeggo and Cadden which, I thought at the time might be just a little bit of a gamble but turned out not to be in the end. Killie had one last throw of the dice in terms of personnel when they replaced Brad Lyons with Alan Power but before they could benefit from it Youan should have put the game to bed but was wasteful with the opportunity. In time added on, a long ball caught Hanlon out and Robinson skipped away from him, shot under the diving Marshall but was thwarted by a goal line clearance from Egan-Riley allowing Hibs another three points and, impressively, another clean sheet.
The players
Marshall – A fantastic instinctive save early on and a few run of the mill ones helped him keep a deserved clean sheet.
Cadden – Fine going forward but caught out a few times in defence. It was interesting in the second half when Killie concentrated on attacking down their left that Cadden was moved forward and replaced by Egan-Riley.
Fish – Absolutely rock solid and he can ping a pass at times too. Came very close to getting my man of the match award.
Hanlon – Other than that late mistake as the ball sailed over his head I thought he was fine and it is clear how much he and Fish communicate with each other.
Cabraja – Not always the best defensively, he was largely ok and managed to get forward quite often.
Egan-Riley – A polished performance from a guy that is clearly a fine footballer. Whether in midfield or defence he was excellent and wins my man of the match award.
Jeggo – Dare I say he fits the Matty Jack role well? Breaks play up and plays sensible passes in order to retain possession.
Henderson – This was the Ewan Henderson I want to see more of. Fantastic first half and played with confidence rather than letting his shoulders slump when things don’t go quite right for him.
Campbell – 100% effort from first ‘til last and a fair few telling passes and tackles. Am delighted he’s beeen rewarded with a contract extension.
McGeady – I’ll be honest and say I was getting frustrated with him as his tricky footwork sometimes baffled him rather than his marker. Sorry to see him off injured though.
Youan – How do I sum him up? He is a delight/joy to watch as he takes on multiple defenders in tight situations and still comes out with the ball at his feet. However, why did he delay getting a shot away on so many occasions?
Hoppe – In the right place at the right time for his goal but should have had two.
Magennis – Looked a bit ring rusty which is not surprising really.
Miller – Looked more mobile than the last time I saw him.
Tavares – Was crunched in an early tackle but got up and got on with it.
Doyle-Hayes – Like Magennis, looked ring rusty.
Lee Johnson – We can’t fault the run we are on and he deserves his fair share of the credit.
Referee – John Beaton – Some frankly bewildering decisions and that’s apart from the red card which has been universally ridiculed by the Sportsound ‘experts’.