How Hibs out-smarted Falkirk to reignite hope - John Greechan's analysis as Rangers and Motherwell lie in wait
Josh Campbell return inspires victory to reignite season in danger of fizzling out
After all the predictions of carnage on a perilous plastic pitch, Hibs picked the perfect time to rediscover a sense of balanced composure. They’ve given themselves a chance, at least, of ending this season on some sort of positive note.
Rangers away and Motherwell at home lie in wait over the closing two games of a campaign that has threatened to ignite on a few occasions … only to fizzle out. By beating Falkirk on their own patch, negating the inherent disadvantage already priced into their post-split fixture card, David Gray’s men have created a spark. What happens next is up to them.
They’ve changed the mood around East Mains and Easter Road through a single victory. A win achieved by sticking to a game plan that was low risk in one respect … but extremely high risk, when it came to the all-important court of public opinion.
In the case of some players, this meant going against everything they’ve ever learned about football. Main talking points from a 3-1 win, then? Let’s dive in.
Beating Bairns at their own game
Doing some digging into stats ahead of this game, it looked as if Falkirk were the very epitome of a mid-table Scottish Premiership side. Except when it came to one ranking.
John McGlynn’s team have been very, very good – especially at home – when it comes to winning the ball high up the park. Pressing opponents near their own goal, turning it over and creating chances in transition.
That’s because teams try to build from the back. And make mistakes on a surface that really does look out of place in the top flight.
Gray took that out of the equation completely. One touch, two touches max, and then spin it in behind, looking for the pace of Martin Boyle and the energy of Owen Elding – plus Josh Campbell’s ability to disrupt - to put Falkirk on the back foot.
Without being brilliant, but by forcing play, Hibs managed to get a win. They did so with 32 per cent possession. Which was obviously a deliberate ploy by Gray.
He didn’t want his team to have the ball. Had it gone wrong, he would have been slaughtered. But he and his players got it absolutely right, especially in the first half.
Josh seizes his moment
Be honest, now. There was no great groundswell among supporters demanding the return of Campbell to the starting XI.
No questions in the House. No popular petition – the inverse of the Kylian Mbappe missive doing the rounds among Real Madrid fans of variable credibility, if you like – imploring the inclusion of a Hibs academy product who tends to be judged rather harshly by supporters.
What a master stroke his inclusion in the line-up turned out to be, though, as the attacking midfielder brought his undoubted goal threat to bear on the contest. The fact that the suspended Jamie McGrath wasn’t missed one bit is a testament to the quality of Campbell’s performance.
His two goals were brilliantly taken. His work rate was off the charts, as usual. And his positioning meant he was always involved in play.
With and without the ball, he almost played as a third striker for Hibs. Yet he had the energy to track back and disrupt the home side.
McGrath is still suspended for the Rangers game in midweek. That doesn’t seem like such a worry now.
Discipline, discipline, discipline
One booking over the course of 90 minutes. And Campbell, the guilty man, was hooked within moments of being shown the yellow card by referee Ryan Lee.
After four red cards in three games, Hibs desperately needed a controlled performance without the ball. They rarely looked like falling foul of officials on the day.
They’ll be put under more pressure in Govan on Wednesday night, with Ibrox a notoriously unforgiving environment for visiting teams looking for a little leeway on the discipline front. But yesterday was a start.
Keep 11 men on the park for the next two games and they’ll have a chance, at the very least, of securing European qualification for the second straight season. Something the club haven’t achieved in half a century. Amazing how quickly the prospects of a side – and the perspective on their success or failure - can change, isn’t it?