Hibs debrief: Allan return a bright spot in dark day at Hampden
Prone to defensive lapses; guilty of lacking a cutting edge when it matters, and seemingly stricken with stage fright in big matches is nothing new for diehard fans or casual spectators.
Does the team lack larger-than-life figures in the dressing room? Is it a lack of belief? It’s very easy to point the finger at Jack Ross but there were players on the field against St Johnstone who have failed to produce the goods at Hampden or in other big games under different managers, suggesting that the problem is more complex than it may appear.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThen again, football can be something of a lottery; if Jackson Irvine's header had hit the post and gone in, or Jamie Murphy had beaten Zander Clark, we may have had a totally different match on our hands.
Player of the match
Shaun Rooney or Chris Kane. From a Hibs point of view, you’d be struggling to find someone deserving of such credit. Jackson Irvine fought until the end; Josh Doig was impressive in the first half, and Scott Allan showed glimpses of what the team has been missing but the less said about the others, the better.
Defining moment
If one of Murphy's two efforts had gone in then the game would surely have unfolded differently.
Referee watch
Nick Walsh took charge of his first major cup semi-final and didn't have a great deal to do. Yellow card for Allan was harsh and he might have let play continue at times rather than halting it for a foul and booking.
Benefit of hindsight
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdJack Ross is clearly a fan of Chris Cadden but starting him in a national cup semi-final when his last 90 minutes came in October seemed bold pre-match, and bizarre when he was taken off after 51 minutes. Especially so when, in Melker Hallberg, Hibs had a fully-fit, versatile player with five assists who could have been deployed in a number of positions in several different formations.
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.
If you haven't already, please consider supporting our sports coverage with a digital sports subscription.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.