Happy Hibees boss hails duo’s star quality
Jack Ross hailed Kevin Nisbet and Martin Boyle after their moments of quality kept Hibs at the Premiership summit with a 2-0 victory over Livingston.
Following a tight first half in which neither side registered a shot on target, Scotland striker Nisbet netted his third of the season, a well-taken strike, before Boyle did well to score the second in the last minute.
The result keeps the Leith side at the top of the league alongside city rivals Hearts ahead of an eagerly anticipated Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle after the international break.
Ross said: “The derby game is a big one anyway, regardless of where teams are in the league. We missed it last
season, albeit it wouldn’t have had the same feeling without the supporters.
“But this coincides with having supporters back in the stadium and us both having a good start to the season,
so it will be brilliant for the city and the two clubs and it is one we are looking forward to as a group.
“I’m really pleased and the start to the season has been excellent for us.
“To keep a clean sheet, score two quality goals and remain top of the league, that was the incentive.
“We spoke about it after the game that you have to do the fundamentals, which is keeping a clean sheet, dominating the ball – which we did for a lot of the game – but then you do need quality.
“Every team relies upon that and we had that with the two goals. I would not overlook Paul Mcginn’s part in the first goal and Scott Allan’s for the second but the finishes for both players are indicative of how they feel and also the fact they are top players in this league.”
Ross, who confirmed Nisbet would be fit to link up with the Scotland squad despite being forced off with cramp yesterday, also revealed the club were set to announce the loan signing of Middlesbrough defender Nathan Wood, who was at yesterday’s win.
Ross added: “The reason for him being here today wasn’t to assess him, it was more to get the medical done etc.
“Hopefully we will be able to announce that soon. He gives us that defensive reinforcement. He is a really good defender with a big future ahead of him in the game.”