It's a slur that for too long has stunk out Easter Road like those bins that are spewing their garbage across Edinburgh. But at long last the signs are there that the phrase ‘Hibs’d It’ has been turned on it’s head and lobbed back at some of the chief tormentors.
Lee Johnson ’s side are starting to show they’ve got the balls for the battle on the big occasion. Already there’s been three examples in the first four Premiership matches.
A 90th minute winner away to St Johnstone, a 95th minute equaliser in the derby against Hearts and now a 92nd minute leveller at home to Rangers. Some might scoff but for me it’s a brilliant trait to have that desire to keep going and never know when they’re beaten. Those three games would have brought one point but instead it’s five and what a difference that could make at the end of the season.
Grit, determination and doggedness are three terms that haven’t been associated with Hibs in recent years but all three characteristics have been evident so far in the top flight. Listen, this team still has plenty of gears to go up. They’re in transition but already they’ve shown they’re willing to battle.
You’ve got to give Johnson credit for changing the mentality. It’s not something that comes naturally. That is instilled in you from the coaching staff.
I like the offbeat parts of his management such as bringing in motivational speakers like the Red Arrows and a sniper. If that’s good enough to get them firing on the park then who’s to argue?
I played under plenty of managers and if you are listening to the same voice every day sometimes it can start to get a bit monotonous. So long as the message is relevant - and from the sounds of it the sniper and his need for concentration at pivotal moments certainly was - then it will keep the players tuned in and hopefully expand their skill-sets.
Johnson is no shrinking violet and that’s coming through in his team. It’s been a decent start in terms of where Hibs should be. I don’t think this season is about challenging for third, they’re not ready although they might surprise me.
Get in the top six this season then take it from there. You won’t hear the manager say that though and he’ll rightly be demanding nothing less than three points at St Mirren tomorrow.
He wants another couple of players in before the window shuts. Another target man would help. Ellie Youan is better on the left and likewise Elias Melkerson out right. Boyle too is not a natural striker.
I’m not sure Momodou Bojang is ready to start so another striker and another attacking midfield player coming from the centre would help as they’ve plenty of sitting midfielders but not enough who could play the 10 role. Last Saturday was a great result and another good performance which was a bit overshadowed with the controversy over Willie Collum’s decision making.
I know Rangers were down to nine men but you have to keep going and try to break through that blue wall in the closing stages. Hibs kept chipping away and got their reward. Both clubs had reason to have issues with the referee. If he’s giving the penalty against Rocky Bushiri then he has to give the one for the pull by Tavernier at the other end.
John Lundstram rightly got his red card rescinded but Alfredo Morelos’ was a stonewaller. I genuinely feel for Willie though. The reaction has been a bit OTT and I don’t go along with the train of thought that he can’t handle top level games any more.
Referees need a hand and thankfully VAR is coming. When I saw Lundstram’s challenge I thought it was a red card at first because I thought he’d raked his studs down his Achilles. But replays showed he is only stopping Boyle with a clip. That was a definite yellow.
Not so with Morelos who let his team down massively. Will he ever learn? Thankfully Hibs seem to have learned how to take full advantage.
