Are Hibs out of Euro battle? And how can David Gray sharpen up toothless attack in pursuit of Motherwell?
Points swing still possible - but Easter Road side need to rediscover their va-va-voom
It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. And this ain’t over.
Not because anyone would wager the mortgage on this Hibs side finding the killer touch needed to make up a six-point gap – plus goal difference – in the battle to claim the last guaranteed European spot available, for now, through finishing position in the Scottish Premiership. But because not even the most wild-eyed Motherwell hype man could argue that the Steelmen are hitting their straps heading into the home straight of this remarkable campaign.
No-one is pretending that Hibs did enough to fully merit victory at Fir Park yesterday. Nor would a majority disagree with the notion that Motherwell staying half a dozen points clear in the race for fourth keeps Jens Berthel Askou’s men in control of that particular contest.
Hibs unbeaten in five
But Motherwell still need to get over the line. And they’ve got the tougher run-in to the split. Should David Gray’s side exert just a little pressure at the right moment, who knows what might happen?
Of course, it sounds easy when you put it like that. Pointing out that Hibs have gone five games unbeaten in the league might even convince some that the Easter Road side are in good shape, when viewed from a certain perspective.
The truth, however, is that they are a team desperately in need of some va-va-voom. Heading into another international break, a definite disruptor to momentum given the number of Hibs players away from East Mains, they look like a side searching for something.
They had it, not so long ago. The side who ended a 16-year wait for an away win over Celtic showed it in abundance. The entire season rests on their ability to rediscover the vim, vigour and – most of all – sense of threat that made them so dangerous at Celtic Park.
So what did we learn from yesterday? And where do Hibs go from here?
Toothless attack needs added bite
It’s not entirely down to the strikers. Jamie McGrath was presented with the chance of the match – but delayed his shot until it was too late.
Still, neither Ante Suto nor Martin Boyle looked like constant threats, even if the skipper did come close to scoring a wonder goal. Even when Nicky Cadden was fizzing in crosses just begging to be put away, Hibs lacked penalty box presence.
As for substitutes Owen Elding and Dane Scarlett, well, they’re different cases. The former, a permanent signing from Sligo Rovers in January, is a work in progress. He’ll improve with exposure – and is worth persisting with, in pursuit of long-term rewards.
Spurs loanee Scarlett is another matter altogether. Having watched the striker fail to produce a goal in eight games as a Hibs player, it’s hard to see why Gray would keep giving opportunities to a guy who will be gone in a matter of weeks.
Harsh? That’s football. Hibs isn’t a finishing school for other clubs’ assets.
Hearts could still do Hibs a favour
With goal difference, the gap between Motherwell and Hibs is more like seven points than six, although there is plenty of scope for that to change over the closing stretch. Too much, surely …
Expect for the fact, of course, that there is a stark contrast between the final two fixtures on their respective dance cards before the Scottish Premiership splits in two. While Hibs host Kilmarnock and travel to face an Aberdeen still looking more than a touch shambolic despite Stephen Robinson’s arrival as gaffer, Motherwell play Falkirk at Fir Park and then Hearts at Tynecastle.
A three-point swing over those two games is hardly beyond the bounds of possibility. If Hibs hold up their end of the bargain, that is. Which takes us back to where we started this conversation.
Suggestions on a postcard to D Gray, East Mains …
The one thing football managers never find to be in short supply? Advice. From cheap seats to late-night posts, there is always an abundance of input on what the gaffer SHOULD do to fix the glaring problems affecting their team.
For what it’s worth, although it looked as if Hibs had switched to a 4-2-3-1 early in the second half yesterday, Gray insists there wasn’t a definite change of formation. Merely a shift in emphasis in how they pressed Motherwell.
“It was more a case of just tweaking a few things,” he said, adding: “And we played through Motherwell, quite a few times beat the press. But it was probably just that cutting edge, that final third, that stopped us creating that real clear-cut chance to be able to come in and say we deserve to get three points in the game.”
A formation is just a starting point. Footballers have always been asked to play from a position, rather than in it. And every decision a coach makes, each choice between wingback and fullback, lone striker or two up top, comes with a trade-off.
Finding a way to get it done. That’s a prize that comes in all shapes and sizes.