Hibs have reasons to be cheerful as David Gray's well-drilled unit build momentum - talking points
Former Hearts favourite Pressley in ‘way ahead of us’ admission after Easter Road loss
The powerhouse forward at the top end of the park invariably attracts attention. And generates headlines, when he’s in this sort of form.
As Hibs held onto third place in the Scottish Premiership with a comfortable win over Dundee at Easter Road, however, there was plenty to admire about David Gray’s team. A unit who picked up exactly where they’d left off before the international break with a performance of poise, pace and occasional precision.
From a goalkeeper who gives Hibs the option of going direct with accuracy and intent, to a central midfield trio who must be a nightmare to contain, the home side shone in any number of departments yesterday. But who and what really stood out?
Mulligan, McGrath and Barlaser are a terrific trio
Dundee would already have been familiar enough with the work of Josh Mulligan, of course, before he ran them all over the park, Gray pointing out: “I think Josh is what he always is. He's a real powerhouse in the middle of the pitch. He controls the game, the way he runs with the ball, the work he goes through within the game.
“I thought the three of them, I wouldn't want to single anybody out in the midfield. I thought the three of them complemented each other really well. That's the second game in a row, actually.
“I thought the midfield have done really well. The way we're asking them to play, how they're playing within the game.
“The running power of Josh is something that we're definitely benefiting from in central areas. He runs beyond from there, but he's then got the fitness to get back in. But I do think the blending there at the minute is working well. And it's great to have that.”
While Mulligan and Jamie McGrath, one a former Dens Park favourite, the other a star with St Mirren and Aberdeen, Hibs new exactly what they were getting in the summer. Proven Scottish Premiership performers.
Boro loanee has settled quickly
When the club signed Dan Barlaser on loan late in the window, on the other hand, fans could be forgiven for wondering if he was going to be just another shell-shocked midfielder strolling north from the English game – and finding themselves unable to cope without time on the ball. No chance.
Gray insists he never doubted the on-loan Middlesbrough man, who cruised through yesterday’s game to continue a hugely promising campaign, saying: “I think he's played at a very high level down south. He's a real honest boy. I've got that impression from him really.
“I was speaking to him before he signed and then just straight after he signed about what he wants to do, where he sees himself playing and what I've seen that we believe adds to this group, which is his calmness on the ball, his range of passing, but also his discipline within the middle of the pitch. And I think now he's getting fitter.
“Because he's not played a lot of football this season. He'd had a pre-season, but not a lot of minutes in pre-season. And you can't replicate that intensity in games that he's now benefitting from playing week in, week out.
“He's someone that's used to having played Saturday, Tuesday, for example, so he can keep putting out big performances. And he's certainly been a good addition for them.”
Eyes forward – but building from the back
The back three all played comfortably within themselves yesterday. But the goalkeeper? Oh, Raphael Sallinger not only made two absolutely stunning saves – he also launched more than one counter-attack with his quick thinking and accuracy of passing.
“His distribution is excellent,” said Gray. “I think that's something that's clear for everybody to see. He's very comfortable with the ball at his feet.
“He does put his eyes up the pitch very quickly when we win it back. But the flip side to that is we've got players that can then really hurt people in transition. Martin Boyle, Thibault Klidje, Elie Youan, real speed on the counter.
“When you do win the ball back, you need to be thinking forward. Can you score as quick as you possibly can?
“If you can do it in one pass rather than 20 passes, I'd much rather see that. Having the quality to be able to execute is the next thing. He's certainly got that.”
Rival boss aware of gap
Dundee manager Steven Pressley doesn’t have his troubles to seek. In virtually every position across the park yesterday, his players were up against better quality, athleticism and footballing nous.
There was an inevitability to the result, despite the visitors’ fightback at 2-0 down, simply because Hibs had so many elements stacked up on their side of the equation. Not least the fact that Gray has now drilled this team into an increasingly efficient unit.
“There’s a context here – Hibs are way ahead of us in terms of our development as a team,” said Pressley, the former Hearts great adding: “But I thought we were brave.”
With no prizes awarded for valour, it already looks like this could be a tough campaign for Dundee. Even if all of the teams at the wrong end of the table dream of “doing a Hibs” by repeating the heroics of Gray’s men over the second half of last season.
Kieron Bowie is a special talent
Impossible to ignore, is the kid from Kirkcaldy. If he hits any kind of form between now and the end of the season, he surely has to travel as part of Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad.
Why? Because when he’s in form, he does things that no other Scottish striker can do. He just needs to give Clarke a reason to pick him. Yesterday was a good start.