Hibs red card discipline addressed as former villain delivers 'football moves on' reassurance to guilty duo
Joe Newell looking for bounce-back win over Celtic as season builds towards home straight
Discipline has been addressed within the group. And the club captain definitely had something to say about the two red cards that cost Hibs so dearly in last weekend’s Edinburgh derby defeat.
But Joe Newell was never going to start pointing fingers. Not when he’s been cast as the villain himself, on occasion.
Sallinger and Passlack both sent off v Hearts
The English midfielder, about to finish up his seventh season as a Hibs players, can’t deny that three red cards in two games – Grant Hanley against Aberdeen, before Raphael Sallinger and Felix Passlack did the double against Hearts – have cost his team dear. He just sees little point in hammering the players involved.
As Newell points out, he’s picked up on the odd dismissal himself. Most infamously, from his perspective, in a Scottish Cup semi-final loss to the nearest and dearest city rivals back in April of 2022. But also as recently as last season, in a 3-2 defeat by Dundee United at Tannadice.
Asked about the specifics of dressing room talk regarding the need to keep 11 men – or at least 10 – on the park, Newell said: “Yeah, to be honest with you, not specifically in front of the group, bar the obvious, bar ‘Let's stop it’ essentially. But now it's a fair question.
“It's something that I think I remember last year, we had a similar spell of the season where there was a few in quick succession, myself included. And it's just about kind of remaining calm.
Scottish Cup semi-final red card still burns
“It obviously has cost us the last couple of games, definitely can't dispute that. But as with the majority of red cards, it's never through wanting to do these things.
“Like I say, I bring myself into the equation, been sent off a few times, been sent off a massive game, a Scottish Cup semi-final. And you don't mean to do it, but you know ultimately you have cost the team. So it's like anything in life, you've just got to learn from it and move on.
“Yeah, decision making, heat at the moment, anything. Obviously, it affects each individual differently, but it's something that obviously the individuals can learn from, but everyone else around them.
“So last year we addressed it and I think we obviously stopped. But yeah, I don't see it becoming an issue moving forward, hopefully not anyway, because it's not ideal. It's been addressed, but I think it's quite obvious in terms of everyone kind of knows that we need to sharpen up with it.
“I spoke to both the boys individually the day after and kind of, because they're obviously relatively new to the club, Felix especially, I actually pointed out my example to them and said: ‘Listen, four years later I'm sat here as club captain.’ So football moves on
“We win the next couple of games, it'll be forgotten about almost. And what I would say, they've both been brilliant since they've come in.
“Rafa's had a great season and then Felix, since he's come in, I think you can see his quality and everything he's brought to the club. So yeah, I was gutted for them. They were gutted themselves.
“They apologised to the group. I know how big it was, but it's just about picking them up and kind of getting around them. And that's something that the group is really good at. It's a very good group in terms of togetherness and camaraderie. So yeah, I'm sure they're two experienced boys.
“They'll know what they've done and stuff, but keeping them part of the group. And they've trained really well since that. And yeah, it's just being around them and they'll be fine.”
Away from what fans may or may not want to happen when Hibs face Celtic at Easter Road on Sunday, the players are obviously motivated to bounce back from last weekend’s gut-wrenching experience with a victory. In a game that matters, too.
“It’s why this is always the best stage of the season,” said Newell. “These are the best games. The sun comes back out and everyone's fighting for something.
“And yeah, like I say, you lose a huge game, but you've got another one around the corner. So it's a best case scenario really in terms of getting back on it.”
On a personal level, Newell is just happy to be back in and around the squad after a series of abdominal issues – including a couple of operations – put him on the treatment table for so long. Having missed out on this season’s European adventure, he’s eager to have a crack at the UEFA Conference League after the summer.
“You know, watching the boys last year going away and watching them in Europe, the home games, the best times, the best games to play in, the atmosphere, everything that comes of it,” he said, adding: “So yes, obviously that's something I'm desperate to get back involved in.
“I'm feeling good. I'm feeling really good to be honest. I felt a lot better the last few weeks, month, had a couple of bounce games at the training ground that have really helped me in terms of my minutes and stuff and my own personal fitness. So, yeah, I'm feeling a lot better and obviously just dying to get back involved and help the club as much as I can.”