Hibs fans were justified in walking out on dismal derby defeat - but that's a worrying sign for David Gray
Missed chances and woeful first half leave team teetering on brink of crisis
You can’t blame the fans for walking out. But it’s a very bleak indicator of public mood when paying punters cannot even muster the enthusiasm to stay and voice their displeasure, whatever the traditional etiquette of derby night may demand.
Watching the Hibs players make a half-hearted lap of dishonour around Easter Road late last night, showing their appreciation for the unlucky few mad enough and angry enough to stick around for the final knockings of a brutal defeat to Hearts, it felt as if this was another serious blow to the connection between supporters and team. One week on from the gory experience of Gent inflicting late UEFA Conference League heartbreak on their side, their apathy was probably an emotional self-defence mechanism.
So what did we learn? And where are Hibs, as a team, after a busy transfer window and a chaotic spell of fixtures?
This is a crisis
You can’t take one game in isolation. But suffering two such dispiriting losses in the space of three fixtures, with more than a hint of self-destruction attached to both their European exit and this derby defeat, begins to look like a pattern.
Gent was horrific. But the lack of anything approaching competence in the opening 45 minutes against Hearts must set alarm bells ringing.
The fact that Hibs have lost four out of the past five Edinburgh derbies, including losing three in a row for the first time since 2012, stands alone as a damning stat for a manager who loves to use history as motivation.
Wozza missed
Whatever Hibs got for Warren O’Hora after the central defender moved onto Leicester City, it wasn’t enough. Yes, we know. It made sense for all involved, up to a point, and Hibs have to protect their reputation for earning players good moves; it’s a key element in their recruitment.
But the most consistent defender for the past year, at least, was sorely missed as Jason Kerr and Grant Hanley struggled in an ungainly centre-half pairing. The less said about Jack Iredale’s performance, the better.
A lot is already resting on the ability of late signing Marko Ivezic’s ability to make an immediate impact.
Chances must be taken
Yet again, Gray was left bemoaning his team’s inability to convert goal-scoring opportunities. Stop him if you’ve heard that one before, right?
“If you look back at every game we've lost this season, we certainly could have won every one of them - if we'd taken our chances,” said the manager. “We're creating more than enough chances to win games of football.
“We're certainly not taking them enough of them, that would be the big thing. I've said that too many times now.
“But you need to keep putting yourself in those positions. You need to keep creating the chances, you need to keep putting yourself in their positions - and it's my job to make sure you keep giving the players the confidence to be able to do that.”
Mulligan a bright spark – for club and country?
Scotland boss Sebastian Pocognoli would have been hard pressed to find much to admire about many in the Hibs team. But Josh Mulligan continues to do his hopes of international selection no harm.
He almost single-handedly dragged his team back into the game in the first half, only for Nathan Lowe’s finishing to let the big man down. And was easily the best home player as Hibs rallied after the break, with his pressure creating the chance for Adam Mayor’s stunning goal.