DUNDEEUTD..0 HIBERNIAN ...... 2
Hibernian refused to let heartache of two previous semi-final defeats get them down
THEY finally lived up to the occasion. Allowed their individual and collective talents to shine. And managed to avoid being crushed by the potential that, left unfulfilled, was in danger of becoming an accursed burden.
If no one in the Hibs camp would claim for a second that their nerve-testing, beliefbuckling, confidence-trying labours of season 2020-21 are at an end, they are entitled to savour — briefly — the sweet, sweet feeling of redemption.
By about mid-morning today, of course, they’ll be back on the treadmill. Putting in place a plan that, they hope, will see off Aberdeen in Wednesday night’s head-to-head battle for third place at Pittodrie.
Should that contest go right to the final whistle of Saturday’s closing round of top-six fixtures, their key men won’t even get a breather before returning to Hampden for the Scottish Cup final seven days later.
And nobody cherishes a runners-up medal. If they don’t lift the trophy, few will even remember Saturday’s semi-final win over Dundee United.
Yet there’s undoubtedly a great deal to be celebrated about Hibernian’s return to a first final since that magical afternoon in May 2016. Starting with the obvious.
Everyone knew what had happened in their two previous Hampden appearances in this wrap-around season; it was all some wanted to talk about in the build-up to Saturday’s contest.
That they avoided a third shock defeat with comparative ease, having looked comfortable even before an assistant referee’s unraised flag handed them the cushion of a second goal, says something about their ability to answer criticism.
‘Yeah, I mean, questions have been asked of us because we’re a big club,’ said Hibs captain Paul Hanlon. ‘But we’ve been getting ourselves in these situations time and time again.
‘Unfortunately, twice this season we came out on the wrong end of the result. But that didn’t change our belief, going into this semi-final, that we had enough ability to get to the final.
‘I think we proved the quality we have in attacking areas, the hard work all over the park — and we were rewarded for that.’
Hanlon is the only Hampden hero of 2016 still holding down a place in the starting XI, a testament to both his durability and loyalty to a club built on a model of producing their own or buying cheap to sell at a profit.
Enjoying one of his best-ever seasons at the age of 31, the lifelong Hibs fan was rewarded with a first Scotland cap back in October’s 1-0 Nations League win over Czech Republic at Hampden.
Modestly, he insists that he’ll need ‘favours’ from other players dropping out to make the squad for this summer’s Euros. A fair assessment.
He’s happy for others to take the limelight at Hibs, too, insisting he sees only the upside in teammates like central defensive partner Ryan Porteous, teenage left-back Josh Doig and top scorer Kevin Nisbet attracting attention from wealthier clubs.
‘It happens, especially at Hibs,’ he said. ‘Over the years, even back to when I was going to games as a fan, we were known as a club that produced good young players.
‘And eventually bigger clubs come in. That’s the way it is with a club like Hibs.
‘But we did a lot of good work in January to fend off that interest in some of our players. The boys involved managed to stay focused on success for Hibs, which is great.
‘They know that, if they’re successful here for a good Hibs team in the Scottish Premiership, maybe win the Scottish Cup, it will attract interest — and it already has.
‘Whatever happens in the summer happens. But there’s a squad full of boys in there desperate to be successful for Hibs right away.
‘If you look at the way Kevin Nisbet scores goals, including in the semi-final, it’s just natural. So it was a no-brainer for Hibs to look at him, the quality he had, last summer.
‘He’s worked so hard, came to
the club so fit and sharp, and got off to a flier.
‘He’s now got a Scotland cap and is being linked with moves away from the club already. It’s been an upward trajectory for him — and it will continue.
‘With Josh, he’s just developing consistency now. His athletic ability is second to none — he can handle these games physically, no problem.
‘It’s just about wee tweaks positionally, especially at certain times when we were under the cosh a bit against United; he can hold his position a bit better.
‘That’s all learning that he’ll get from playing more games. But, in terms of attributes, physicality, appetite to learn, he’s got the lot.
‘My job is to play alongside him, help him as much as possible, talk him through the games. When we let him off the leash and he goes forward, he’s such a threat with that pace, that strength and that delivery.’
On his own improvement, Hanlon cites nothing more revolutionary than hard graft, explaining: ‘As soon as lockdown happened back in March, I never took more than three or four days off. It was my release, an hour or so out of the house doing running, and I loved doing it. I spent so much time trying to get as fit as possible, not knowing when we would get back.
‘I really committed to getting as fit as I possibly could going back to pre-season. And I feel like I’ve got my rewards for it. It’s now just about staying fresh for the end of the season.
‘Scotland is still an ambition but I know I might need a few favours, in terms of players missing out, if I’m to get there this summer.
‘All I can do is be involved in big games for Hibs and try to make us as successful as possible.
‘If international rewards come my way, I’d be delighted. But my thoughts are firstly with Hibs and trying to make this a successful season.’
That is now within their grasp thanks to a competent, professional and clinical showing on Saturday. It wasn’t a great game. Not by any criteria. But Hibs, having survived a couple of early halfchances which fell to United midfielder Ian Harkes, never really looked back once Nisbet had scored to put them ahead after 27 minutes. True, they might have endured more of a sweat had Christian Doidge’s sublime finish just before the hour mark been correctly disallowed for offside. But they had chances to score more. And really didn’t give their opponents much hope. In a week when plenty of supposedly clever people have been arguing about what certain results really mean, nobody could claim that Hibs don’t deserve their place in the final on Saturday week.
Former Scotland and Celtic manager Gordon Strachan, speaking in the aftermath of a potentially season-defining win for his boyhood heroes, hinted at an element of fate at play when — referencing those two semi-final heartaches — he said: ‘The footballing gods hurt you before they allow you to be successful.’
As Strachan himself might acknowledge, the history of Hibs is littered with excellent teams who appeared intent on inflicting pain upon themselves.
The class of 2020-21 have a chance to join the boys of 2016 as notable exceptions. No mean feat, in itself.
DUNDEE UNITED (4-3-3): Mehmet 7; Smith 5, Edwards 6, Reynolds 6, Robson 6; Butcher 6, Fuchs 6, Harkes 5 (Pawlett 60); McNulty 6, Shankland 6, Clark 5 (Sporle 53). Subs not used: Connolly, Chalmers, Appere, Davidson, Watson, Smith, Doohan. Booked: Butcher, Edwards, Robson. HIBERNIAN (4-4-2): Macey 7; McGinn 7, Porteous 5 (McGregor 73), Hanlon 6, Doig 7; Boyle 7, Hallberg 6, Newell 6 (Magennis 60), Irvine 7; Nisbet 8 (Murphy 84), Doidge 7. Subs not used: Marciano, Gray, Wright, Stevenson, Laidlaw. Booked: Porteous. Man of the match: Kevin Nisbet. Referee: Bobby Madden.