Lennon tinkers to tease out best of Horgan
● Irishman has made impressive start to his Hibernian career but his position in the side is a tactical work in progress
Hibernian head coach Neil Lennon acknowledges a degree of tactical tinkering will be required to get the best out of new signing Daryl Horgan, despite another standout showing from the Ireland international against Aberdeen.
Horgan, a waspish winger by trade, was utilised as a floating No 10 in Saturday’s 1-1 draw and was arguably the hosts’ most potent threat throughout, producing a plethora of bustling bursts forward and probing passes.
Only a magnificent firsthalf save from the typically excellent Joe Lewis denied the 26-year-old in the first period, while he played a pivotal role in the late leveller which cancelled out Tommie ho ban’ s opener.
While impressed with Horgan’s immediate impact since joining the club from Preston, Lennon concedes that the midfielder is yet to fully settle into Hibs’ 3-5-2 system. However, with more hours on the training ground, particularly during the upcoming international hiatus, Lennon believes he will come up with a solution that get’s the best out of Horgan.
“Daryl is a very good player,” said Lennon. “I do know he is not a natural No 10 but we are comfortable with the three in central midfield. We tried a four across the middle the previous week against Ross County, allowing him to play wide, and it was a bit hit and miss.
“We need to get more time on the training ground to work at that in terms of how to fit him into our formation. He is quick, can go both ways, he is smart so these are attributes that make you think the No 10 role could work with him.
“He did great for the goal but, in general, we had a lot of possession and we didn’t make the most of our dominance second half.”
Australian striker Jamie Maclaren, pictured, may have opened his account for his second loan spell in the capital, but remains a tad “undercooked” in Lennon’s eyes following the World Cup and consequent belated summer break. “Jamie is still a bit undercooked,” said Lennon. “Getting the goal will do him the world of good, he thrives on that. He’ll train, get a bit sharper and he’s going to be a big player for me this season.”
Horgan can count himself unlucky not to have opened the scoring after 15 minutes.
He latched on to a fine Lewis Stevenson pass and curled an effort towards the top-corner but Lewis’ fingertip save was top-drawer.
The towering goalkeeper then denied Martin Boyle at the near-post, before his opposite number Adam Bog dan made a sharp stop to parry Lewis Ferguson’s shot from 20 yards.
Ferguson was irrepressible in the first half. Little wonder Aberdeen were satisfied by the undisclosed – but reportedly modest – fee they paid. The 19-year-old was denied was appeared a cast-iron penalty
claim when he was tripped by Paul Hanlon, who was already on a booking, on the cusp of half-time. Referee Andrew Dallas waved the claims away as Aberdeen players and staff raged.
However, the fury was quelled when the visitors scored from the resulting corner. A Gary Mackay-steven cross found Stevie May, whose flick-on was turned towards goal by Hoban.
Although his initial effort was saved by bog dan, the keeper allowed the ball to squirm free and the on-loan Watford man prodded the ball over the line.
It was one-way traffic after the break, albeit Lennon’s charges were uncharacteristically toothless without Flo Kamberi, who – music to the ears of Hibs fans – is slated to return to fitness after the upcoming international break.
However, the predatory Maclaren is a man who always seems to be in right place at the right time. On as a subs-tutute, he coverted a wonderful cross from Hanlon after Horgan’s incisive pass had afforded the stalwart defender time and space to pick out his man. Aberdeen boss Derek Mcinnes, while seething at Dallas’ failure to award his side a penalty, conceded that it would be churlish to grudge Hibs a point, albeit surrendering their advantage so late irked the Reds boss.
Nevertheless, the Dons – like Hibs – are yet to suffer a domestic defeat and could yet strengthen their ranks prior to the transfer window closing this week.
“I don’t know about expecting us to do more business but I’d like to get one position in to give us a bit more balance,” added Mcinnes.