'Sick' Hibs gaffer's defiant message to fans despite plunge into relegation zone after self-inflicted defeat
Bottom of the Scottish Premiership - but boss insists there’s been improvement
Marink Reedijk was left feeling ‘sick’ after watching his Hibs team self-destruct as they plummeted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. But the Dutch coach, who has suffered back-to-back defeats in his first two games, has urged fans to keep holding their heads high.
A 2-1 defeat to Falkirk at Easter Road saw Hibs extend their long winless run in the league on home turf; the last time they won a Premiership game in front of their own fans was on April 4. And, with Kilmarnock beating Motherwell, Reedijk’s men dropped to the foot of the table.
Dutch coach says Hibs ‘dominated’ Falkirk
Adamant that he’d seen improvement on last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Dundee United at Tannadice, the new manager – who stepped into the role during the international break – said he couldn’t let league position be a distraction to the job in hand.
Reedijk, who led SK Beveren to an undefeated season in winning the Belgian second tier title last season, said: “The thing I've seen last year is also when you're at the top of the table or at the end of the table or at the middle of the table, you just need to focus on the next match. This is what you can control. This is where you can have the influence on.
“And where we are at the moment, we cannot influence. This is a fact. So we have to keep on focussing on the football things we need to do, the mental things we need to do. And our mindset needs to be in the way that we keep on doing what we're doing.
“Because although this result, I have a sick feeling in my stomach, I saw a better team today and I see progress. So, overall, I want to see it with a sick feeling in my stomach, also in a positive way towards the next match, because it doesn't make any sense to look at it in a negative way. We need to look forward and not backwards.
"I think we are a thief of our own wallet. I think we gave away two easy goals. I think we dominated the game. I think we created a few good chances. I think we have to create even more chances.
“And that's what I think of the game. I think we dominated, but we need to make more of that out of this game. If you dominate in this way, you can't lose."
Abdulai and Klidje howlers led to goals
Asked whether the howlers from Azeem Abdulai and Thibault Klidje, both leading to Falkirk goals as the visitors raced into a 2-0 lead before Owen Elding got one back for the hosts, were mental or technical errors, Reedijk said: "For me, at the moment, technical. Decision-making in the corner, I think you should be clinical there.
“And if you have a good touch there in the 10 pocket, the first goal, you're a two v one. You play out very well. You have a two v one over there. And unfortunately, these moments, they take the chance.
“This is the moment we are in. But we need to keep our heads up high. We need to make sure that we keep on doing what we do and improve these things. Because compared to last week, I think we saw a better Hibernian today."
Hibs were met with a chorus of boos at full-time, as the fans who stayed until the final whistle gave vent to their frustrations. The new boss understands the anger – but is appealing for patience.
Asked for a message to the supporters, he said: "That I understand their frustration. That I think that also here we need to stay together, and that it is really important to stay together. Because at the end of the day, this will also help to lift us as a team.
“They are very important to us. And that although there's disappointment today and over the last couple of weeks, and also last week, keep the head up high and be proud of being a Hibs fan, and try to see it in a positive manner. Although I understand the frustrations."