This is how it feels (Kilmarnock 02 09 22)

I’m sitting here in front of a blank screen wondering how on earth I’m going to be able to offer up a reasonable summary of a game we won 1-0 but could and should have won by four or five. I’ll give it a try but I’m still reeling from the fact that we struggled once again in all areas of the park, excepting goalkeeper but more of that later.

Prior to the game, Jamie McAllister stated that we would be lively from the off, energetic throughout and hungry for goals and although we’ve heard all of that before I was encouraged that we started the game in that fashion. Inside the first five minutes we had a Campbell shot blocked and then a Youan effort, fed by Henderson, sliding wide of the post. Then, a fantastic turn and pass from Kenneh saw Youan free and the striker hit his shot hard enough but sadly straight at Walker in the Killie goal. Barely a minute later, Cadden fired in a cross that was helped on by Youan before reaching Henderson at the back post, but the Hibs man contrived to fire his effort over the bar with the goal gaping.

Hibs were stretching the Killie back four by having Boyle and Youan in wide positions and Josh Campbell, at times, like a false nine as he rushed into the middle whenever those two wide players were in possession. Killie were offering little in an attacking sense, but Oli Shaw did have a chance that he fired over the bar. Within seconds of that, Porteous chipped a lovely pass over the back of the Killie defenders and as Boyle reached the ball and took a good touch, he was hauled down by Ash Taylor. At first, I thought Boyle was in the box, but referee Beaton gave a free kick right on the edge before showing Taylor a straight red card. I suppose at least one of those decisions was correct. With Porteous hovering over the ball it was a ruse and Newell struck a left footed shot which rebounded straight back to him allowing for a second effort which flew into the net with Walker flat footed.

A shell shocked Killie immediately made it their mission to get everyone behind the ball and to put challenges in on our wide men. From one such challenge, by Power on Boyle, the Killie man was booked. David Marshall was largely a spectator at that point but had to be on his toes to deal with a snap shot from Wright. In close order, Campbell just missed to the right and then Kenneh was unlucky to see a fierce strike fly just past the post with Walker merely a spectator. Henderson was next to try his luck, but the ball sailed over the bar. Newell tried from a Cadden pass but missed the target whilst Boyle got a shot between the posts but right at the keeper.

For reasons I find hard to explain, Hibs reverted to slow predictive play and Killie were able to be a bit more adventurous. Shaw fired over the bar then Power almost freed a man, but Cabraja was wise to the attempt and intercepted. The crowd were getting a bit restless now; frustrated at the slow build up from the back and at a number of misplaced passes by both Porteous and Hanlon. At the half time break I suggested that I’d replace Henderson with McKirdy on the basis that Ewan was not at his best in a wide position whilst McKirdy would add something different to our attacking play. That very change was not made at the break but took place five minutes into the half.

Ten man Killie had a decent chance to level from a corner, but Wright couldn’t keep his shot down and the ball cleared the bar by some distance. Next, Porteous freed Boyle down the right before hurrying into the box to meet Martin’s cross but his powerful header was tipped over the bar. Moments later, Youan couldn’t get enough power on a far post header to beat Walker in the Killie goal.

Hibs were motoring again and in an unbelievable sequence of events they created four clear cut chances, but none were converted. Campbell and Hanlon had shots blocked whilst Youan and McKirdy saw headed efforts fail to find the target. With around twenty five minutes left, Stevenson and Doyle-Hayes replaced Cabraja and Campbell, the latter’s withdrawal surprising me somewhat as Josh had been having a good game. Soon after, Killie made a couple of changes of their own with Lafferty and Murray replacing Shaw and Innes. Within seconds of his arrival, Lafferty was up to his usual antics in trying to wind up Hibs defenders and Porteous in particular.

Those changes did have a positive effect as both Power and Armstrong had attempts having been set up by Lafferty and Chrisene respectively. Right after that, Boyle freed Youan but the resulting shot flew just wide of the far post. Next, Boyle seemed to have been tripped and as he landed, he collected the ball in his hands, resulting in a yellow card from John Beaton. Moments later, Porteous was running with the ball and Lafferty clattered into him with both going down, Lafferty holding his face. Both were booked and as it unfolded straight in front of me, I reflected that maybe Ryan was a tad fortunate because he did catch Lafferty, if only slightly.

Hibs were getting a bit nervy and Killie a bit more adventurous as Murray saw a shot fly wide. To be fair to Hibs they were pressing for a second and that helped the nervousness at the back as players were flooding forward. The number of decent chances Hibs were creating was incredible and yet they could not finish any of them. Youan, Boyle, Doyle-Hayes and Newell all should have done better but the most glaring miss of all fell to Bojang who had replaced Youan up top. A ball out of defence was flicked on by Newell who was bashed into by McKenzie. Rightly, Beaton played advantage and Bojang raced clear with only the keeper to beat and Boyle alongside him if he chose to pass. He didn’t and instead fluffed a left footed shot that was so under hit it barely reached the keeper. Beaton then went back and rightly booked McKenzie.

Killie’s small band of fans were roaring their team on and when the visitors won a late corner, keeper Walker rushed up to join in, but Marshall easily handled the delivery and set Hibs free again. In the dying seconds, Newell tried to pick out McKirdy in the box, but Joe’s hurried pass struck McKirdy on his standing leg and the new guy was denied a chance of a debut goal.

It was three points, but boy did we have to labour through it, due to a collection of good chances being passed up. I honestly believe that if we’d taken even half of those chances, we’d have won three or four nil.

The players – Had he played the full ninety I’d have been tempted to pick Josh Campbell, but he didn’t, so I’m left with two possibles in Newell and Boyle. Given his goal I’ll plump for Newell.

Marshall – Hardly involved throughout but saved well when the need arose. I remain impressed with his quick and accurate distribution of the ball.

Cadden – His play of late has dropped in standard a bit but he looked to be getting back to his best again.

Porteous – This is a toughie for me. His pass to Boyle that resulted in the free kick and his give and go header in the second half were impressive but there were too many poor passes and the odd ‘hospital’ pass in the ninety minutes.

Hanlon – Looked better than he has since returning from injury, but he makes my blood boil when he insists on backing away and backing away as an opponent approaches.

Cabraja – A solid enough performance but didn’t get many crosses into their box. Maybe because there was no obvious target to aim at.

Newell – Joe took his goal really well but could have had a hat trick if only he would take on chances with his right foot. Passed up two such opportunities today.

Kenneh – Back in the team and for the most part he performed well. I thought I could detect him pushing forward more and hitting forward passes.

Boyle – As usual he caused opposing players all sorts of problems and in my view was unlucky to get booked.

Campbell – His engine is awesome and the number of times he bust a gut to get in the box when the wide men had the ball was impressive.

Henderson – Wide left just doesn’t work for him and he seems to be making a habit of missing very good chances in front of goal.

Youan – Once he gets a goal, he’ll start to hit the target more often. Needs to lift his head though as beating several defenders at close quarters is nice to see but gains us nothing.

McKirdy – The lad doesn’t lack confidence, that’s for sure and he showed enough mobility and a bit of trickery to leave me wanting to see more.

Doyle-Hayes – Didn’t get forward as much as the man he replaced

Stevenson – Lewis was just Lewis – solid.

Bojang – I’m lost for words, to be honest.

Jamie McAllister – Will be happy with the outcome

Referee – John Beaton, at least for him, had a pretty uneventful afternoon because the sending off and various bookings were uncontested.