Hoppe shines as Hibs overcome adversity again
THE problems keep on coming for Lee Johnson. Provided the Hibernian manager still has the solutions close to hand, his side will continue to make impressive strides.
This victory, which extended their unbeaten league run to six matches, again owed much to their ability to cope with adversity.
Aiden McGeady had menaced Kilmarnock until pulling his hamstring at a most inopportune moment. Two weeks ago in Paisley, Harry McKirdy’s day was curtailed early on with an ankle injury.
On both occasions, Matthew Hoppe demonstrated that not every setback need be a disaster.
On loan from Middlesbrough until the summer, the American international forward already looks officer material.
A smartly taken goal just after the interval was his just deserts for a lively contribution that belied the fact he’s only just coming to terms with his new environment.
The impact the softly-spoken 21-yearold from California has made ought to come as no surprise. He’d already rolled with a few punches in his short career.
Released by LA Galaxy’s academy, Hoppe was picked by Barcelona’s academy in Arizona before winning a move to Schalke. A hat-trick for the German giants a month after joining, the first for an American in the Bundesliga, saw them end a 30-game winless streak and led to Hoppe moving to Mallorca a year later for £3million.
Middlesbrough liked what they saw and signed the player on a four-year deal in August. The fact Boro are pushing for the Premier League means opportunities there have been limited.
Hibernian fans should be thankful. Johnson has recruited a player with no little ability but, just as significantly, one who already knows what it’s like to be taken out of your comfort zone and live to tell the tale.
Asked what experiences he could now draw on, Hoppe said: ‘Being able to adapt to what the team and the coach needs from me is the most important part — whether it’s different formations or whatever else the game throws at you. You just have to be ready to adjust and help the team in whatever way you can.
‘In Spain they focus a lot on technique and in Germany it’s more the tactical side of the game. Here, it’s a lot more physical and I think it’s all helping to shape me into a good player.
‘My time in Europe has been full of ups and downs but I’ve got to stay consistent and keep helping the team.
‘It’s easier to adapt to the team having moved from England to Scotland because I don’t have to learn a new language or anything. The style of play is different but I think I’m settling in well.’
Hoppe (right) proved to be a seamless replacement for the quicksilver McGeady. Slotting into the left of the attacking trio supporting Elie Youan, his touch and movement were in keeping with a slick collective effort.
Six weeks after looking exasperated with his side’s shortcomings, Johnson will have taken huge satisfaction with how it’s all now coming together.
If there is still much work to be done middle-to-front — better decision-making would have resulted in a far more handsome scoreline — the team now has balance and a degree of self-assurance.
They were dominant throughout here yet only had a goal from a set-piece to show for their efforts at the break. McGeady’s corner was met with a thumping header from Will Fish, the on-loan Manchester United man out-jumping Lewis Mayo six yards out.
Mayo had a day to forget. He knew nothing about Ash Taylor’s attempted clearance two minutes after the restart. The ball bounced off his frame and presented a gift to Hoppe. The forward swivelled and buried the chance with aplomb.
No one in the Kilmarnock camp was prepared to dress this up as a hard luck story. They were second best for the most part and didn’t deserve to take anything. Derek McInnes’ men remain the only Premiership side not to win on the road this season and unless that’s addressed the remaining three months will be fraught with anxiety.
Yet they were still entitled to nurse a sense of grievance as they left Easter Road. Kyle Vassell was guilty of catching Marijan Cabraja with a high boot midway through the second half. There was no excessive force or malice, as evidenced by the fact that neither the Croatian or his team-mates were incensed, and the yellow card John Beaton produced seemed entirely appropriate. There was absolutely no need for VAR Steven Kirkland to intervene and urge the referee to take a second look.
The seed of doubt planted in his mind, Beaton produced a red when he should have stood by his original decision. Kilmarnock’s slim chance of claiming an unlikely point went up the tunnel with the Englishman. ‘I don’t think there was any malice in it at all,’ said visiting skipper Rory McKenzie. ‘He’s (Cabraja) ducked his head down.
‘I go by the reaction of opposing players. I don’t think anyone claimed for red and to send him
off is harsh.’