Fish backs Montgomery to get it right despite ‘ gutting’ result
Defender left disappointed as Hibs fail to make top six
WILL FISH is adamant that Hibs have the foundations for success next season – but admitted the team had fallen short of their expectations and had been guilty of too many sloppy moments during this campaign as they failed to keep their top- six chances alive at Motherwell.
For what felt like the umpteenth time since the curtain rose on the 2023/ 24 campaign, Hibs conceded a late, late goal to throw away points, with Shane Blaney’s fine finish for Stuart Kettlewell’s side sparking a frantic finale at Fir Park with neither side able to get the much- needed winner that would boost their top- six prospects.
As the final whistle sounded in the breezy North Lanarkshire sunshine, both sets of players sank to the turf; the Steelmen scunnered and spent after having come so close to an unlikely tophalf finish; their capital opponents devastated and shellshocked after somehow contriving to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory.
“It’s a sickener,” a sombre Fish said. “It’s going to take a while to digest. We’ve thrown away too many good opportunities this season, and this was another prime example of that. It can’t happen and that’s on us. We have to take responsibility for that.”
It was telling that, during his own post- mortem, manager Nick Montgomery mis- spoke and described the result as a defeat before correcting himself. Certainly, the manner of the outcome must have felt like a loss, given that Hibs were within touching distance of keeping their top- six chances alive before falling into their old ways.
“We’ve had so many times when we’ve been in front in games and conceded in the last minute or last 10 minutes, for whatever reason. That’s on the players and we know that. It hurts. But that’s football and we need to pick ourselves up and go again,” the defender continued.
Having departed the pitch at half time last weekend with a sickness bug, with Hibs conceding twice during the second half to lose 2- 1 to St Johnstone, the on- loan Manchester United youngster was one of the better performers for Montgomery’s side on Saturday. He won the penalty for Myziane Maolida’s opener and along with the rest of the back four, repelled all that Motherwell threw at the visitors – for 93- and- a- half minutes, at least.
“I think everyone needs to go away and we need to have a look at ourselves and what’s gone wrong this season,” Fish admitted. “The only thing we can do now is go and play for the badge and win the last five games. The lads are gutted. We’ve only got ourselves to blame.
“Everyone in that changing room will learn and in football, you never want to have days like this and feel like this. You have to have these moments to enjoy the good times as well. It’s going to hurt us and we apologise to the fans as well because we feel their backing every week. It’ll hurt them just as much as us. It’s tough to take and we apologise. We just have to try and make the most of it.”
Whatever happens in the final five games, Fish has seen enough this season under a new manager and coaching staff to believe Hibs are in a good place to hit the ground running next season.
“I believe the management team will be successful,” he said. “It’s never crossed my mind or any of the players’ minds that they can’t be successful at this club because we see it day in, day out. They are tactical in their thought and in their training, and the amount of effort they put into making us better. Everyone can see that. We’ve had a few bad results this season and that is on the players, it’s nothing to do with the management. I think, given time, they will turn it around.”
Whether or not Fish will be there to be part of that predicted turnaround remains to be seen. He has played close to every minute of every game in every competition since returning from Old Trafford for a second season- long loan stint but he is contracted to the English Premier League side until the summer of 2025, with the option of another 12 months. A lot might hinge on his desire to be playing regularly, and at what level that might be.
“I’ve not really given it much thought, to be honest,” he said, when asked about his future. “My focus this season was to come back to Hibs and do the best I can for the club. I feel like I’ve failed. The team is now in the bottom six and I’ve played in a lot of those games. I need to look at myself and that hurts as well. No one out there ever gives less than 100 per cent. We’ve had a few things go against us this year and sloppy moments like that in the last minute have cost us. That’s football and it hurts.
“I take it step by step and whatever happens in the summer, I don’t know. I’ve loved every minute of playing for Hibs. I’ve had some incredible times and in these last five games we have to give everything for the shirt.”
We’ve thrown away too many good opportunities this season, and this was another prime example of that