Try to remember the good times. What do you mean, you can’t recall any of those golden moments? There must surely have been some.
Look, no-one is pretending that Hibs – the players, multiple managers and the people responsible for hiring and firing gaffers at such a relentless clip – performed in an acceptable manner over the course of season 2023-24. If you wanted to develop a theme to tell the story of this annus horribilis, it would be pitched somewhere between mildly uninspiring and downright infuriating.
But there were highs amid the lows. To pretend otherwise would be to paint a very bleak picture of events. And suggest that there is no way back from the current slump in form.
With one eye on the summer rebuild and in full acknowledgement that none of the summits scaled made up for repeatedly plunging into the abyss, let’s take a look at the key moments – mostly misery occasionally offset by a few fleeting interludes of joy – in a campaign that never got going. A dozen memorable days. Including a few that we’d all like to forget …
5. Hearts 2 Hibernian 2 – October 7, 2023
Elie Youan’s double, a pair of wildly celebrated goals just 83 seconds apart, will always be a Tynecastle highlight for many Hibs fans. Because their team definitely looked dead and buried at 2-0 down, with less than 25 minutes remaining. Comebacks are always fun. Derby comebacks doubly so. This draw left Montgomery unbeaten in his first five games as gaffer. | SNS Group
6. St Johnstone 1 Hibernian 0 – December 16, 2023
Hibs arrived in Perth sitting two places clear of their city rivals, knowing that a victory would put Monty’s men clear in third place. When you look at where they ended up, it’s almost impossible to imagine they ever ventured so far up the table. But they were beaten and brutalised by a bad St Johnstone side. And the shock sent them on an EIGHT-GAME winless run in the league. Photo: Roddy Scott - SNS Group
7. Hibernian 0 Rangers 3 – January 24, 2024
To say Hibs were down to the bare bones for this game would be an understatement. Jordan Obita started alongside Will Fish at centre-half, with Paul Hanlon ill and Rocky Bushiri on AFCON duty. Kanayo Megwa played at right back, covering for Lewis Miller competing at the Asian Cup for Australia, with Lewis Stevenson on the left. Myziane Maolida – nowhere near match sharpness – was thrown into the starting XI. They never stood a chance. | SNS Group
8. Hibernian 0 St Mirren 3 – February 3, 2024
Jings. This did not feel like the dawn of a bright new era as Montgomery blooded his January signings in a game that might actually have been worse than the scoreline suggest. Former Hibs player Alex Gogic opening the scoring with a free header after just eight minutes set the tone on a day when loan signing Nectar Triantis endured a personal nightmare in central defence. Even allowing for St Mirren’s excellence, this was hard to take for Hibs fans. | SNS Group