BOYLE LIFTS HIBS SPIRITS
MARTIN BOYLE is a man of his word. The irrepressible Hibernian star may have endured a somewhat underwhelming pre-season campaign but he assured head coach Jack Ross that he would be ready shine on the big stage.
Saturday was showtime and, much to Kilmarnock’s chagrin, the Australia international kept his promise in scintillating fashion.
Boyle bagged a brace in a stunning first period showing at Easter Road, capitalising on a Jake Eastwood error to break the deadlock before fizzing another low drive beyond the Killie keeper.
Chris Burke halved arrears but Boyle’s man-of-the-match display proved enough to keep the three points in the captain.
The 33 cardboard kangaroos in the East Stand, bought by the Australia branch of the Hibernian Supporters’ Association in his honour, remained unmoved throughout. His manager, however, was effusive.
‘By his own admission, Martin hasn’t felt like he’s been at his best in pre-season,’ said Ross. ‘But he assured us that he’d be right for the opening day. In fact, he told us he would score!
‘He played in a slightly different role at the start of the game (as a striker) and then back to his more natural position on the wing — but wherever he plays on the pitch, he carries a threat because of that pace.
‘And he’s a much better player than a lot of people give him credit for. His all-round play is good, how he creates opportunities is excellent and I’m delighted he has got off to that start.’
Ross handed debuts to Drey Wright, Alex Gogic and £250,000 man Kevin Nisbet. However, the most eye-catching selection came in the form of 18-year-old Josh Doig ahead of Lewis Stevenson at left wing-back following a string of fine displays during pre-season.
‘Josh is an 18-year-old making his full debut for the club, but he was excellent,’ added Ross. ‘He tired and was playing against a really good opponent in Chris Burke — that will be another good education for him.
‘He can be very pleased with himself. It’s emotionally draining making your debut, whether fans are there or not, and Josh looked like he had played a number of games already.’
Killie boss Alex Dyer, meanwhile, selected Eastwood ahead of Danny Rogers between the sticks in the battle between his new keepers.
Against an eerie, tinny backdrop of piped-in crowd noises, Killie went on the attack and a wonderful delivery from Ross Millen narrowly evaded both Kabamba and McKenzie at the back post.
That would prove a false dawn. Hibs claimed the lead when Nisbet surged forward and slipped a fine pass to Boyle, who skipped around the onrushing Eastwood and coolly slotted into the net.
The young goalkeeper’s decision to rush from his goalmouth when the blistering Boyle was always going to win a foot-race was errant.
Eastwood did make a sharp save to deny Joe Newell before Gogic — superb throughout — headed just off target.
But the excellent Boyle gave Hibs a richly-merited second goal when he latched on to a Scott Allan pass, scampered into the box and fizzed a wonderful low drive past Eastwood.
Boyle is in the final year of his contract and, on this form, there will be inevitable interest in him during this transfer window.
Kilmarnock were handed a scarcely-deserved lifeline on the cusp of the break when Burke lashed a thunderbolt of a free-kick beyond Ofir Marciano from all of 30 yards. A goal-of-the-season contender on day one.
Rogers replaced Eastwood at the break — due to injury, Dyer later confirmed — but it was Marciano at the other end who caught the eye.
He produced a wonderful instinctive save to keep Hibs’ lead intact when Paul Hanlon directed a super Greg Kiltie cross towards his own goal.
The Israel international then gathered another audacious Burke effort from distance. The former Scotland international’s new setpiece technique vaguely resembles Cristiano Ronaldo and is something to keep an eye on this term. No laughing at the back!
Danny Whitehall headed over the bar as the visitors pushed for parity but Hibs held firm.
‘The goal before half-time changes the dynamic of the second half and we didn’t have any control of the game,’ said Ross. ‘Kilmarnock were good and forced us back. They made us defend resolutely.
‘That is something we have worked hard on because we didn’t do it enough last season.
‘I did notice a change from the pre-season games. We have played against a number of Premiership teams, which has skewed it, but there was a significant difference in tempo.
‘I was unsure how that intensity would be with no fans but the competitive edge and pace of game was there.’