Hibs analysis from frustrating day: Squad depth, European exertions and one moment of undiluted joy

No-one said it would be easy. A few even suggested that it would be precisely this hard for Hibs to do the Sunday-Thursday-Sunday shuffle required of Scottish Premiership teams with Europa League or UEFA Conference League ambitions.

So, no, they won’t be making excuses. No self-respecting professional coach or player likes to hide behind even the most reasonable points of logic after a disappointing result.

But it’s hard to escape the suspicion that the exertions of last Thursday night in Belgrade, when Hibs had been so composed and controlled in their 2-0 away win over Partizan, had some effect on this afternoon’s nonsense, shenanigans and hijinks at Easter Road. In a game of football reduced to chaos and confusion, the home side did well to escape with a point in the end.

And so David Gray will have issues to address at training this week. If they can throw away a 2-0 lead in little more than four minutes of play, interrupted only by the half-time break, they won’t feel entirely confident in defending the exact same advantage against a Serbian side with 90 minutes to haul themselves level on aggregate.

How much depth does David Gray really have?

The manager made just three changes for today’s game, bringing Scotland defender Grant Hanley in for Jack Iredale, handing a first start since Boxing Day to Elie Youan – who rewarded him with a goal – and resting Chris Cadden, with Junior Hoilett starting to allow Josh Mulligan a return to wingback. Did he have many more options?

Giving Thibault Klidje a smattering of injury-time minutes to impress hardly suggests complete faith in the game readiness of the club’s record signing, a striker who arrived with a big price tag and a decent reputation. Boyle, Cadden, Iredale and Josh Campbell all saw varying degrees of game time.

Alasana Manneh, the only signing of the last January window, was an unused sub alongside Kanayo Megwa and Jacob MacIntyre. New midfielder Miguel Chaiwa will come into the group when international clearance is received, although he’s not registered for Thursday’s game. But Gray will be looking for heroes to emerge from the shadows, if Hibs are to navigate this tricky opening phase of a campaign that promises to be challenging on two fronts. All going well.

Thursday holds key to transfer market

On a related note, Hibs remain interested in adding at least one more midfielder to the squad. And they’re very much in the market for another striker in the mould of, for example, a Lyndon Dykes – another physical type who can relieve some of the burden on Kieron Bowie, who took unbelievable punishment today.

But it’s a lot easier to sign players when you have certainty. In this instance, the budget available to Gray will be hugely impacted, should they get past Partizan – which would make them favourites to beat Legia Warsaw (probably not going to overturn a 4-1 deficit against Larnaca) in the UEFA Conference League play-offs.

Transfer targets will also be more attracted by the lure of guaranteed league phase football. So, no pressure, then.

A reminder of why football is (mostly) fun

Elie Youan’s goal celebration was a moment of undiluted joy. He hadn’t started a competitive game for Hibs since last Boxing Day’s win over Hearts at Tynecastle – and hadn’t scored since the statement win at Pittodrie five days before that.

Having struggled with a toe injury and knee problem, the Frenchman seems constantly beset by suggestions that he remains eager to move on. Possibly even hints that Hibs would be happy to find a buyer, all being equal.

Restricting himself to comments on Youan’s performance today, Gray said: “think he was excellent today, especially in the first half. You've seen that. And when he plays like that, you know he's a real threat.

“He's had to be patient and wait for his opportunity. He's had his own individual fitness issues and things like that for a wee while. It's been a frustrating time for him.

“And he's had to be patient because the side's been playing really well. He got his opportunity from the start today and he's certainly done himself well.

“I thought he was a threat all day. I thought everybody was. And the way we moved the ball in the front three were causing Kilmarnock all sorts of problems.

“When he plays like that, he's a real asset to have. And I think, off the back of that, that's the standard that's been set. That's what you want to see as often as you can.”

Bright spots amid the gloom

So it wasn’t all bleak emptiness at the end of an eventful afternoon. Hibs were genuinely very good for about 44-and-a-half minutes.

Jamie McGrath’s free-kick delivery for the opener was a thing of beauty. Junior Hoilett’s pass to set up Youan’s goal was equally aesthetically pleasing.

“There’s a lot of real positives to take from the game,” said Gray. “That's why I need to be measured when I'm speaking to the players to make sure it's not all doom and gloom and real disappointment.

“Because clearly there is that initial feeling because it's two points dropped. But there's a lot of good in the game as well.

“And it's part of football. You can't all be playing sailing all the time. You get setbacks, you get adversity within it.

“It’s about now how we react. And the good thing is it's a real exciting one to look forward to on Thursday.”

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