I’VE GOT BONE TO PICK WITH PABLO
Ryan says his dog refuses to watch him
Ryan Porteus insists he e will keep his full focus s on football amid d intense speculation on n his future – even if his s pet dog has long since e switched off!
Stevie Clarke’s debut cap p picked up from where he left off ff against Ukraine in midweek with an outstanding display in Dingwall as the Hibees climbed into fourth place in the table after a comfortable win over Ross County.
The plaudits rained down on Porteous after his fine show in Poland helped Scotland climb into Europe’s Nations League elite but his biggest fan – pup Pablo – just wasn’t interested.
Porteous said: “I am just back from the Scotland trip and I’ve seen the dug – that’s about it. I don’t really get out much.
“My mum said he wasn’t interested in the Scotland game. I am gobsmacked.
“He is Pablo – Pablo Porteous. To get him to watch me, I might have to score two. He’s my biggest fan but he just wasn’t interested.”
As well as a commanding defensive show, Porteous was the main instigator of the Easter Road side’s attacking moves and grabbed the vital opener 25 seconds into the second half.
His form and impending freedom of contract is sure to have alerted bigger clubs on both sides of the border.
Hibs, meanwhile, will be determined to deal him in with a new contract.
Porteous said: “I have just been completely concentrating on football for a long time now.
“I have been solely focused on that for the past six months and it is paying off. I am getting into the Scotland squad and doing well and scoring today.
“The team really helps me as well as a group. I have a lot of good people around me and the focus is solely on football.”
Po r t e ou s a dmi t s h i s Dingwall performance capped off an unforgettable week, adding: “It is definitely up there with the best week of my career.
“Weeks don’t come better than that.
“To go away with Scotland, do well for your country and the team ending up where we wanted to be was fantastic.”
Defeat lef t County third bottom in the Premiership table, with only one league win from eight so far this season.
Af ter restorative home victories over Aberdeen and Ki lmarnock before the international break, Hibs came north intent on making it three straight wins for the first time since December last year.
Unchanged from the Dons’ game, there was the pre-match boost of the inclusion of Kyle Magennis on the bench after 12 months of injury hell, before a late bow for the midfielder.
The Staggies, with just one win to their name so far, drafted in Bristol City loanee Owura Edwards for a first start since mid-August and he was the home side’s main threat in the first half.
Unfortunately, he failed to net County’s big chance in the f irst per iod, with David Marshall blocking close in.
Otherwise, Hibs held the greatest threat with Porteous swerving a free-kick around the home wall but just wide of Ross Laidlaw’s left hand post.
Porteous was granted plenty of space to probe deep into County territory, distributing some clever passes and, once, drawing a strong save from Staggies keeper Laidlaw.
The developing pattern saw County hemmed into their own half, unable to make much stick in Hibees territory.
Some Hibs sloppiness after 27 minutes allowed William Akio to feed Ross Callachan for a blocked attempt, before Edwards thrashed the followup against Marshall’s legs and to safety.
Somehow, it felt inevitable that the breakthrough would come from the boot of Porteous, just 25 seconds after the restart.
Joe Newell launched a long throw into the home penalty box and, amid a rabble of flailing legs, Porteous was calm enough to swivel into position six yards out and beat Laidlaw.
There was an incredible miss for Hibs after Newell swept the ball across the face of goal and Boyle, sl iding in, fai led to connect from a few yards.
But Boyle set tled it by thrashing in the second from 12 yards after Chris Cadden crossed from the right.
Home boss Malky Mackay, now preparing for Motherwell’s Tuesday visit, said: “I was reasonably happy at half-time but when we have those golden chances we have to take them.
“I’m not criticising Owura Edwards because I felt he was one of the guys that really shone for us today.
“He showed bravery today to get on the ball and we need more players to do the same.”