This is how it feels (Kilmarnock 01082020)
At last, proper football is back and so too is ‘This is how it feels’ which gives me the chance to offer my thoughts and opinions on each game. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing.
Thanks to Covid19, everything in football has changed and it was very strange sitting at home watching Hibs playing their first competitive game at Easter Road. A couple of sound issues and two whiteouts didn’t really spoil the experience which overall I thought was very good. David Tanner was slick in his presentation; Joelle Murray although nervous offered some thoughtful insights and Tam McManus was good value for money. I like Tam as a person, have been lucky enough to interview him a couple of times in years gone by and it’s safe to say he hasn’t changed and almost always has a smile on his face.
I confess I spent a fair bit of time trying to find the cardboard me but sadly I failed. My pal saw his cut out and announced he was ‘sitting’ next to a dog when in ‘real times’ he’d be sitting next to my brother who smells a lot better if truth be told!
As to the game itself I was pleased we ran out winners although like the cut outs I felt our performance was pretty flat in parts. Hibs started well and were ahead inside five minutes when Nisbet stroked the ball into the path of Boyle who raced towards goal, carefully sidestepping the onrushing Killie keeper before steadying himself and cracking a shot home. I cannot even begin to imagine why Eastwood in the Killie goal came rushing out so far as Boyle skipped past him a good twenty yards from the goal. It was a fine finish and a good start to proceedings.
With young Josh Doig making his competitive debut, Hibs started in a 3-5-2 formation with Nisbet and Boyle up top. Fellow debutant Gocic took up station in front of the back three and was soon in action, breaking up Killie attacks. For their part, Killie tried to take advantage of Doig’s inexperience and kept looking for Burke down their right. The young Hibs man coped fairly well but Jack Ross noticed the need for support and switched Drey Wright over to that side.
With Killie gaining more and more possession it was a bit worrying but our three central defenders coped well and as the half hour approached, a super bit of play from Scott Allan saw him skip away from his marker before feeding Boyle on the right side of the Killie box. Boyler took a touch and steadied himself before firing the ball across the diving keeper and in at the far post. A cracking finish and a two goal cushion.
Killie resumed the majority of possession but as I’ve said before and no doubt will say again in the future, possession doesn’t win games, goals do. It’s all very well having the ball but it’s what you do with it that counts.
I had hoped we’d get to the break without conceding but it was not to be and right on the break, Hibs faffed about at the back, trying to pass their way out of danger and instead fouled, at least in the eyes of referee John Beaton, Tshibola. The free kick was at least twenty yards from goal and Rocky set up a three man wall. Step forward Chris Burke who smashed his effort high into the net on Rocky’s right hand side. If a Hibs man had scored a goal like that I’d be lauding it as a cracker but it wasn’t and so, whilst acknowledging it was a fine strike, I have to raise questions about our keeper. Was the wall set up correctly? Did he mess up by trying to save with his ‘wrong’ hand? I’m not a keeper but it looked as though if he’d simply gone with his right hand he might have saved it.
After the break and indeed for most of the second half, Killie dominated possession but despite that and despite firing the ball into our box at every opportunity, Rocky’s only save of note was in touching the ball round the post when it had hit Hanlon and was going to go in. I thought Jack Ross reacted well to the changes in shape made by Killie and brought the right subs on at the right time to see out the game.
Not the most exciting of starts to the season but a win is a win and it puts Hibs at the top of the pile!
The players
Marciano – As I said, I’ve some doubts over his performance at the Burke goal but maybe I’m being a tad harsh as it was a stunning strike. His save from Hanlon was instinctive and noteworthy.
McGinn – It was noticeable to me that McGinn got his head to a good few crosses and cleared the lines in doing so. I thought he looked comfortable in that right of three role.
Porteous – I’ve been worrying about Ryan as his knee injuries were serious but he was immense today and never shirked a tackle or ducked a cross.
Hanlon – I know he has his critics but he was very good today and together with the other two in the three at the back, defended solidly.
Wright – Drey started on the right but played most of his time on the pitch on the left after Jack Ross moved him. It was a quiet debut and most of his good work was defensively.
Allan – Scotty was certainly not at his best and although his movement and assist for the second goal was top notch he had a frustrating tendency to give the ball away too easily. Not a good day at the office but the consolation is we know that he’ll get better with more games under his belt.
Gocic – Much was expected of him and for the most part he delivered. Was particularly impressive in the first half but seemed to tire later into the second.
Newell – Joe looks so much more accomplished in the central role but I thought he was pretty quiet today and most caught my eye by getting away with a string of fouls over the ninety minutes.
Doig – A good start for the kid who had Burke to deal with. For the first twenty minutes or so he did that just fine but the vastly experienced Burke caused him a few problems after that.
Boyle – The wee man took both goals exceptionally well and I confess I am too hard on him at times because, especially in the second half, he reverted back to the Boyle of old and forgot to lift his head and see team mates better placed to receive a pass.
Nisbet – A very quiet debut although his through ball for the first goal was sweet. I’m pretty sure he’ll improve with the going.
Horgan – Daryl flitted in and out of the game which is pretty much the norm for him in my opinion. He did do some fine protecting of the ball late on though.
Doidge – Given that he hasn’t trained much I thought he put in a decent twenty minutes and might have done better with a headed chance towards the end.
Stevenson – Lewis defended well and to me it was noticeable that Burke was less effective when the wee man came on. He had one tremendous block in the centre of the eighteen yard box.
Hallberg – A tactical change to run down the clock so nothing really to pass comment on, performance wise.
My man of the match had two contenders. Porteous for his immense defending and Boyler for his goal scoring exploits. After much thought, I’ve gone with the latter.
Jack Ross – Will be delighted with the outcome but also a tad concerned at the lack of possession.
John Beaton – A quiet game for him and even the cut outs weren’t complaining.
