The 2022/23 season for Hibs will very much be remembered depending on what happens on the final day. Beat Hearts and move into third place and it’ll be a qualified success. Sure there will be some regret they shot themselves in the foot many times, which ultimately cost them of getting group-stage European football next term, but ultimately it’ll provide a happy ending and real hope for the future. A draw or defeat on the other hand, and they’re again looking up at their biggest rivals and Aberdeen between them and the position they want to be in.
There’s been a real mixture of good and bad, and that’s reflected in these awards...
5. Best Goal - Elie Youan v Celtic
Until Wednesday night this would have been another award going to Campbell. His swerving-strike from 20 yards in the dying seconds of the 2-2 draw with Rangers was both a goal of top quality and an important one. However, he’s going to have it snatched off him at the end by Youan, who brought Hibs back into the game in their 4-2 victory over the champions at Easter Road with an excellent effort. Moving away from goal and on his weaker left foot, he perfectly met a first-time volley which nestled in the far corner. It also helped set up a winner-takes-all clash for fourth place with Hearts on Saturday in the final game of the season. Photo: Paul Devlin - SNS Group
6. Apex Mountain - Beating Motherwell for fourth consecutive win and third place
There was a point where it looked like the evolution of this team under Johnson was very much ahead of schedule. When Motherwell were beaten 1-0 at Easter Road, thanks to a Ryan Porteous header, it was the club’s fourth win in succession and had them third place in the cinch Premiership table. Things soon turned sour, and quite badly too, as this was followed by a run of seven defeats in eight games. Until the late penalty was awarded in the recent game with Aberdeen (which was missed) Hibs never again looked serious contenders for the best-of-the-rest honour. Photo: Ross Parker - SNS Group
7. Snake's Belly - Scottish Cup defeat to Hearts
This was the conclusion to three months of really subpar form. It was also the second time in a matter of weeks Hibs were beaten 3-0 by their greatest rivals and a Scottish Cup exit at the first time of asking. It really didn’t look like Lee Johnson would survive this, but the board held their patience and he has managed to turn it around since then. Photo: Craig Williamson - SNS Group
8. The Alan Stubbs Award - Diamond switch against Celtic
For the biggest tactical masterclass, let’s again return to the most recent game. After performing well in a three-at-the-back system at Celtic Park (which was a contender itself) Johnson rightly went back to this shape for Wednesday's visit of Ange Postecoglou’s side. After a first half in which they were struggling to impose themselves, he moved to a 4-4-2 diamond in the second period, which enabled Hibs to compete in attacking sense, getting the reward with four goals and a memorable win. Photo: Ewan Bootman - SNS Group