Rival boss makes Hibs prediction after facing Marink Reedijk as 'high-risk' approach bound to spark reward

John McGlynn insists Hibs fans must give new manager Marink Reedijk time to embed his ‘high-risk’ style of football.

The Falkirk boss guided his team to a 2-1 win at Easter Road on Saturday in what was his counterpart’s first home game. Jacob Murrell scored twice in the first half with Owen Elding responding for Hibs during a first half that was riddled with defensive errors by the hosting side.

McGlynn was fascinated by how Hibs put as many as six players on their forward line and it allowed his attackers space in behind when they did manage to pinch the ball back. He’s in no doubt though that once Reedijk has time to implement his style fully, that Hibs will start to win matches again, with this result putting them bottom of the Premiership. Falkirk move to ninth after their second win from nine matches played.

How do Hibs play under Marink Reedijk?

McGlynn explained: "It was a different challenge. You can talk about it being a back three but it floats out of that into a back four. Because they had so much of the ball it was more like a back three. We looked at and it was like a 3-1-6 with Felix Passlack so high on the right and Thibault Klidje on the other side. It’s then three number 10s and a number nine. You basically had six players across the front line.

“You go high-risk with so many bodies forward and then on the flip side if you win the ball back, as we did in the first goal, there’s space down the sides of the centre-backs. It took a bit of looking at. Hibs will start winning games very shortly. Make no mistake about that. Hibs will start winning games. It’s not for me to say but fans just need to be patient, they will start winning games.

"Hibs had a lot of the ball and Scott Bain had one really good save, but it was all about winning. We have been in good positions in recent games and not seen it through, so that was huge for us. Now we want to kick on from this win.

John McGlynn on the touchline at Easter Road | (Photo: Paul Devlin/SNS Group)

“I am glad we have got over this because the players dealt with pressure and got the win. Hibs made us run but we worked so hard and I am delighted for everyone - from the players to the fans. There are only 29 games to go now...

“We are delighted as a club. We've had a few sore ones recently losing late goals and we were potentially in that situation after getting in front. But to hold out makes me so proud of the players. This is a new squad and that win will help bring them together even more now.”