CHEERS TO JEERS
Semi-final win is all in the past as fans round on Ross
TRY as Hibernian manager Jack Ross might to accentuate the positives, his voice was drowned out by the boos at time-up yesterday from the Easter Road stands.
One win in eight league games renders talk of good attitudes and continued creativity something of a side issue. As does the fact his side has not won a game at home since a one-goal victory over St Johnstone on September 26.
With three league games against bottom-six opposition in Livingston, St Mirren and Dundee now looming ahead of a date with Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup final, this will almost certainly be a defining twoweek period for the Hibees’ season where action will have to speak infinitely louder than words.
In these three league games, which they really need to win to get back into the mix with rivals Hearts at the top end of the table, they need to start showing a little more up front after seeing a Kevin Nisbet goal against the run of play cancelled out by Tony Watt.
In that Hampden date with Celtic, some of the slack defending on show here is likely to be punished by far greater ruthlessness from the opposition.
Ross, at least, admits it is time to put up or shut up. Performances and passion have to married up with points.
‘Even prior to today, we looked at this four-game period in the league and we wanted to win all four games because we knew where that would propel us in terms of the table again,’ said Ross. ‘The cup final is different but the league games are vital for us in terms of putting us back into an area of the table where we need to be.
‘We are in a difficult run at the moment and it would be more concerning if we weren’t getting effort, application and creativity.
‘In the second half, we played well, created a lot but we just couldn’t get the goal our play deserved.’
Yet, with five goals in eight outings, the lack of cutting edge is becoming a problem.
‘Earlier in that run, we went through a little period where we didn’t create a lot, which isn’t like us, but we are starting to look more of a threat,’ said Ross.
‘We have not looked like a team that is doubting itself. It’s about ensuring the players retain trust in what they do because that’s the biggest challenge when you go through a period like this.
‘It’s human nature you’ll question yourself, because the noise will get to you. It’s crucial they keep that clear-headedness.’
Motherwell found some gaping holes to exploit in a Hibs defence looking far from clear-headed early on. Just six minutes in, it took a last-gasp Paul McGinn tackle to deny Kevin van Veen as he pulled the trigger in front of goal.
The two chances passed up within the space of 60 seconds just after the midway point of the first 45 were something else, though. First up was Dean Cornelius, making his first league start for the visitors and most definitely having a moment to forget on 25 minutes.
Taking advantage of hesitancy from McGinn to go clean through, he could see the whites of Matt Macey’s eyes as took aim. Sadly, he struck the keeper’s outstretched right boot with his shot.
Watt then squandered a golden opportunity on Motherwell’s next foray up the field.
The former Celtic striker sparked things off with a rasping shot from the edge of the penalty area, which Macey could only palm to his right. Van Veen latched onto it and delivered a cross that gave Watt a free header from a matter of yards, which he sent high and wide.
Macey then had to save a low shot from Kaiyne Woolery before Hibs took the lead out of the blue on 33 minutes with a rare attack.
Josh Campbell was the architect. Spotting Nisbet getting the run on Bevis Mugabi, he sent over a wonderful ball from the right with his left foot and the Scotland striker hammered home a first-time volley.
You’d think that would have settled Hibs. Not with a back lot malfunctioning like this, and the leveller duly came on the hourmark. An effort from Mugabi was blocked at the edge of the area and went out left to Watt, who met it on the half-volley and watched it whizz low into the net off the post.
Campbell came close to a winner for Hibs 12 minutes from time — sending an effort off the underside off the bar — and Nisbet had another chance with just two minutes to go after being picked out by Martin Boyle.
His low effort was weak, though, and gave Liam Kelly an easy save.