This is how it feels (St. Mirren 05 02 2022)
0
Ive never been one for making dramatic statements when it comes to the fortunes of Hibernian Football Club but as I sit writing this, I have to confess to having real concerns that, as far as results on the park are concerned, we are looking like a club in freefall. After a gutsy Derby performance, I expected more of the same and instead got a performance from a side lacking shape, cohesion, direction and organisation. And yet we had the better chances to score but failed to take them and were sucker punched due to a sloppy piece of play by Doyle-Hayes.
With Joe Newell unavailable due to injury, we went with a midfield pairing of Josh Campbell and Jake Doyle-Hayes who struggled throughout against the experienced Alan Power and the livewire Connor Ronan. Kevin Dabrowski rightly retained his starting spot whilst Demetri Mitchell got in ahead of Josh Doig who was on the bench. Shaun Maloney retained the two up top with Mueller in behind.
Play was very open in the early stages, so much so that I felt nervous every time St. Mirren broke forward. At the other end, Hibs pushed on, but the final ball was a let-down, especially from Mitchell on the left who was booked early in the game for a foul challenge. Moments later, the same player fired a right footed shot that looked on target but was deflected before it reached Alnwick in the St. Mirren goal. Next up, the lively Mueller got a shot away but once again his effort was blocked.
Down the St. Mirren left, Jordan Jones was busy and offered up a couple of decent crosses but by and large I felt that Chris Cadden dealt well with the former Ranger. Efforts from Tait, Ronan and then Jones himself all failed to trouble Dabrowski before Mitchell skipped inside his marker but then hit a right footed shot high and wide of the target.
Around the twenty minute mark, Dabrowski was properly tested by a shot from Grieve, but the keeper easily saved that attempt. Five minutes later, Mueller showed remarkable resilience in probing deep into the St. Mirren box and only a last minute challenge prevented him from opening the scoring. Next, Stevenson crossed for Nisbet, but the striker headed the ball wide of the target. Cadden had been showing well on the right and a last ditch lunge by Richard Tait stopped him in his tracks as he broke through; Tait rightly being booked for the tackle.
There was little of real note happening for either side at this point in what was proving to be a disappointing first half although Connor Ronan found space to fire just wide before Doyle-Hayes was booked and both Jones and Jay Henderson had attempts at goal which made Dabrowski have to save whilst Porteous had a similar outcome with a header at the other end.
The second half began with Ewan Henderson on for an out of touch Christian Doidge and this required a little bit of a reshuffle with Mueller getting closer to Nisbet and Henderson playing in behind. Starting on the front foot, Mueller had a go from distance, but the ball was always rising. The hosts were far more aggressive at this point with Mueller, Nisbet and Henderson all coming close to breaking the deadlock. Indeed, Henderson was left shaking his head in disbelief as Alnwick foiled him with a fine save. Hibs next two efforts were both set up by Nisbet, but Cadden and Henderson once again found Alnwick up to the test.
Just past the hour mark, Hibs conceded when Doyle-Hayes failed to control a throw in and Connor Ronan pinched the ball, stepped inside the Hibs penalty area and fired a rocket shot high into the net. It was a crushing moment and Doyle-Hayes was disconsolate but consoled by a word from Chris Mueller whilst the rest of his team mates looked the other way. From the restart, Hibs swept down the park where Mueller set up Nisbet, but Kevins strike once again brought out the best in Alnwick. The pattern of play thereafter became one of Hibs looking to get level and St. Mirren defending doggedly.
With twenty minutes left, debutant Sylvester Jasper replaced an out of touch Josh Campbell and the new man soon had the home fans enthused with a couple of darting runs at Richard Tait the St. Mirren left back. Jasper and Cadden combined to win a couple of corners for Hibs but only a Ryan Porteous header caused the visitors any concern. Next, a double substitution saw Stevenson and Mitchell replaced by Doig and Scott as Shaun Maloney looked to find a way to get level and moments later, to a rousing cheer, Scott Allan replaced Jake Doyle-Hayes. At this point the disquiet in the home stands was building as Hibs persisted in their way of building slowly from the back with only minutes left on the clock. Even the news that there would be an additional five minutes brought no change in the Hibs approach, an approach that had tried and failed to break down an organised defence. As the final whistle blew, the boos rang around and in truth that was not at all surprising.
The players
Dabrowski Kev had no chance with the goal and otherwise kept a safe goal with a few decent saves. One thing I would say is that, like Macey, he is slow to notice players breaking and looking for the throw out. Of course, it could be that he is being instructed to play out from the back.
Bushiri Apart from a couple of shaky moments, Rocky played well enough although he sometimes gives me the fear when he dwells on the ball a little too long.
Porteous Ryan was majestic against Hearts, fully focused and brimming with confidence. Today, I counted at least three occasions when his sloppy play could have cost us dearly but, in his defence, he finished the game strongly enough.
Stevenson Lewis was fine and coped well with Jay Henderson and Marcus Fraser who frequently looked to make headway down their right hand side.
Cadden Growing with every game he sent numerous crosses into the danger area. It must frustrate him, as it does me, that nobody ever seems to run across the defender at the front post. Defensively, he faced Jordan Jones and for my money he won that battle and is my man of the match.
Doyle-Hayes As I alluded to earlier, he struggled in central midfield and his error for the winning goal will haunt him.
Campbell In to replace the injured Newell, Josh had a pretty torrid time of it, drawing groans from the crowd when things went wrong for him which, whilst I understand the frustration, is hardly likely to help a young player still learning the game.
Mitchell Had a half decent first half but kinda disappeared for the second until he was replaced.
Mueller The only Hibs player on the park making himself available at all times and combined with his willingness to run at defences marks him out as my man of the match.
Nisbet I had a conversation with a fan before the game. He hates Nisbet and pointed out to me all the faults in Kevs game, or at least his perception of them. I argued back that in the same ninety minutes (against Hearts) Nisbet showed the positive sides to his game. We agreed to disagree. For today, Kev had some lovely lay-offs, some good long passes, some good link up play with Mueller and Cadden. There were other things he did that were not so great. Thats why I find it both disappointing and disheartening that some on the messageboard say he is rubbish and has been for months. Opinions, eh.
Doidge In contrast to Nisbet who put in a shift, big Doidge was a shadow of what we know he can be. Plays like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders which might explain why the only header he won today was in our own box. Something not right but Ive no idea what.
Henderson Some lovely link up play and a decent effort at goal I think hes improving with the going.
Jasper This little fella is going to entertain, thats for sure. He wasnt shy about running at defenders that towered above him and he was unlucky at one point to be dispossessed just as he was about to shoot.
Doig I know he wasnt on that long, but he failed to catch the eye for anything threatening to the St. Mirren back line.
Scott His time at ER was summed up for me when he attempted to flick on with his head a ball down the line and he missed it completely.
Allan Arrived to a massive cheer from the home stands but giving him ten minutes to influence a game is a crime. I know some say hes finished but let me ask them this. Would you rather have Josh Campbell or Jake Doyle-Hayes trying to find holes in a visiting defence or Scott Allan. If his health means he cant do 90 minutes get him on from the start and then replace him once hes reached his limit.
P.S. Joe Newell Get well soon, we need you in our midfield.
Shaun Maloney Not read or heard his comments but I heard plenty of comments from fans leaving the ground at the end and they were almost universally critical of Maloneys apparent stubbornness to change things when building from the back isnt working.
Referee Greg Aitken refereed to standard practice from refs in this country. Poorly.
With Joe Newell unavailable due to injury, we went with a midfield pairing of Josh Campbell and Jake Doyle-Hayes who struggled throughout against the experienced Alan Power and the livewire Connor Ronan. Kevin Dabrowski rightly retained his starting spot whilst Demetri Mitchell got in ahead of Josh Doig who was on the bench. Shaun Maloney retained the two up top with Mueller in behind.
Play was very open in the early stages, so much so that I felt nervous every time St. Mirren broke forward. At the other end, Hibs pushed on, but the final ball was a let-down, especially from Mitchell on the left who was booked early in the game for a foul challenge. Moments later, the same player fired a right footed shot that looked on target but was deflected before it reached Alnwick in the St. Mirren goal. Next up, the lively Mueller got a shot away but once again his effort was blocked.
Down the St. Mirren left, Jordan Jones was busy and offered up a couple of decent crosses but by and large I felt that Chris Cadden dealt well with the former Ranger. Efforts from Tait, Ronan and then Jones himself all failed to trouble Dabrowski before Mitchell skipped inside his marker but then hit a right footed shot high and wide of the target.
Around the twenty minute mark, Dabrowski was properly tested by a shot from Grieve, but the keeper easily saved that attempt. Five minutes later, Mueller showed remarkable resilience in probing deep into the St. Mirren box and only a last minute challenge prevented him from opening the scoring. Next, Stevenson crossed for Nisbet, but the striker headed the ball wide of the target. Cadden had been showing well on the right and a last ditch lunge by Richard Tait stopped him in his tracks as he broke through; Tait rightly being booked for the tackle.
There was little of real note happening for either side at this point in what was proving to be a disappointing first half although Connor Ronan found space to fire just wide before Doyle-Hayes was booked and both Jones and Jay Henderson had attempts at goal which made Dabrowski have to save whilst Porteous had a similar outcome with a header at the other end.
The second half began with Ewan Henderson on for an out of touch Christian Doidge and this required a little bit of a reshuffle with Mueller getting closer to Nisbet and Henderson playing in behind. Starting on the front foot, Mueller had a go from distance, but the ball was always rising. The hosts were far more aggressive at this point with Mueller, Nisbet and Henderson all coming close to breaking the deadlock. Indeed, Henderson was left shaking his head in disbelief as Alnwick foiled him with a fine save. Hibs next two efforts were both set up by Nisbet, but Cadden and Henderson once again found Alnwick up to the test.
Just past the hour mark, Hibs conceded when Doyle-Hayes failed to control a throw in and Connor Ronan pinched the ball, stepped inside the Hibs penalty area and fired a rocket shot high into the net. It was a crushing moment and Doyle-Hayes was disconsolate but consoled by a word from Chris Mueller whilst the rest of his team mates looked the other way. From the restart, Hibs swept down the park where Mueller set up Nisbet, but Kevins strike once again brought out the best in Alnwick. The pattern of play thereafter became one of Hibs looking to get level and St. Mirren defending doggedly.
With twenty minutes left, debutant Sylvester Jasper replaced an out of touch Josh Campbell and the new man soon had the home fans enthused with a couple of darting runs at Richard Tait the St. Mirren left back. Jasper and Cadden combined to win a couple of corners for Hibs but only a Ryan Porteous header caused the visitors any concern. Next, a double substitution saw Stevenson and Mitchell replaced by Doig and Scott as Shaun Maloney looked to find a way to get level and moments later, to a rousing cheer, Scott Allan replaced Jake Doyle-Hayes. At this point the disquiet in the home stands was building as Hibs persisted in their way of building slowly from the back with only minutes left on the clock. Even the news that there would be an additional five minutes brought no change in the Hibs approach, an approach that had tried and failed to break down an organised defence. As the final whistle blew, the boos rang around and in truth that was not at all surprising.
The players
Dabrowski Kev had no chance with the goal and otherwise kept a safe goal with a few decent saves. One thing I would say is that, like Macey, he is slow to notice players breaking and looking for the throw out. Of course, it could be that he is being instructed to play out from the back.
Bushiri Apart from a couple of shaky moments, Rocky played well enough although he sometimes gives me the fear when he dwells on the ball a little too long.
Porteous Ryan was majestic against Hearts, fully focused and brimming with confidence. Today, I counted at least three occasions when his sloppy play could have cost us dearly but, in his defence, he finished the game strongly enough.
Stevenson Lewis was fine and coped well with Jay Henderson and Marcus Fraser who frequently looked to make headway down their right hand side.
Cadden Growing with every game he sent numerous crosses into the danger area. It must frustrate him, as it does me, that nobody ever seems to run across the defender at the front post. Defensively, he faced Jordan Jones and for my money he won that battle and is my man of the match.
Doyle-Hayes As I alluded to earlier, he struggled in central midfield and his error for the winning goal will haunt him.
Campbell In to replace the injured Newell, Josh had a pretty torrid time of it, drawing groans from the crowd when things went wrong for him which, whilst I understand the frustration, is hardly likely to help a young player still learning the game.
Mitchell Had a half decent first half but kinda disappeared for the second until he was replaced.
Mueller The only Hibs player on the park making himself available at all times and combined with his willingness to run at defences marks him out as my man of the match.
Nisbet I had a conversation with a fan before the game. He hates Nisbet and pointed out to me all the faults in Kevs game, or at least his perception of them. I argued back that in the same ninety minutes (against Hearts) Nisbet showed the positive sides to his game. We agreed to disagree. For today, Kev had some lovely lay-offs, some good long passes, some good link up play with Mueller and Cadden. There were other things he did that were not so great. Thats why I find it both disappointing and disheartening that some on the messageboard say he is rubbish and has been for months. Opinions, eh.
Doidge In contrast to Nisbet who put in a shift, big Doidge was a shadow of what we know he can be. Plays like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders which might explain why the only header he won today was in our own box. Something not right but Ive no idea what.
Henderson Some lovely link up play and a decent effort at goal I think hes improving with the going.
Jasper This little fella is going to entertain, thats for sure. He wasnt shy about running at defenders that towered above him and he was unlucky at one point to be dispossessed just as he was about to shoot.
Doig I know he wasnt on that long, but he failed to catch the eye for anything threatening to the St. Mirren back line.
Scott His time at ER was summed up for me when he attempted to flick on with his head a ball down the line and he missed it completely.
Allan Arrived to a massive cheer from the home stands but giving him ten minutes to influence a game is a crime. I know some say hes finished but let me ask them this. Would you rather have Josh Campbell or Jake Doyle-Hayes trying to find holes in a visiting defence or Scott Allan. If his health means he cant do 90 minutes get him on from the start and then replace him once hes reached his limit.
P.S. Joe Newell Get well soon, we need you in our midfield.
Shaun Maloney Not read or heard his comments but I heard plenty of comments from fans leaving the ground at the end and they were almost universally critical of Maloneys apparent stubbornness to change things when building from the back isnt working.
Referee Greg Aitken refereed to standard practice from refs in this country. Poorly.