Hibernian 2 - 3 St Johnstone: Fragile Hibs crash back into trouble

By Moira Gordon at Easter Road
Published on Sunday 22 January 2012 00:00

ANY joy, when it comes at Easter Road, is short-lived. After two wins in succession away from home, to ensure safe passage in the Scottish Cup and then give themselves some breathing space in the quest to avoid relegation, the doom clouds returned yesterday.

While Dunfermline were defeating Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, Pat Fenlon’s men were struggling to overcome St Johnstone in Leith. They are the only team that Hibs have beaten at home on SPL business in almost a year and twice Hibs battled back from a goal down, but on both occasions poor defending saw them undo all their good work within a matter of minutes, permitting Steve Lomas’ side to leave the capital with all three points and allowing Dunfermline to move within a point – a worrying scenario given that the East End Park side still have a game in hand and Hibs appear no closer to resolving their own inadequacies.

“That’s the story of our season,” lamented the visibly disgusted Hibs assistant manager Billy Brown. “We are where we are because of the goals-against column. Even in the last two games, we won but in those two games we conceded two to Cowdenbeath and two to Dunfermline. To get into the position where we get it back to 1-1 and then lose the second through abysmal defending and then get it 2-2 and lose another bad one, that’s the way it has been going.”

The acquisition of a more experienced or, simply a more resilient, defender has become an even bigger priority than ever. “But whether that happens or not… it’s not easy to get players at this time of the year and one player doesn’t always make a difference. Everybody has got to pull together. Defensively we are poor, no doubt about it. We saw that today. But credit to St Johnstone.

“I don’t know if it is a lack of concentration, it is a lack of resilience and determination. That’s what you need in a situation like that. To be fair, St Johnstone had one or two more chances but to get it back to 2-2, collectively we have to defend better than that.”

Brown was not willing to concede that the relegation battle is now a two-way battle but he was adamant that his men have to find some doggedness if they are to ensure that they are not still in the mix come May.

The frustration was that having given their chances a boost last weekend, they could not build on it yesterday. “Well done to Dunfermline to go down to Kilmarnock and win 3-0 after their last two. They showed some balls there and now this club has got to show the same.”

St Johnstone by contrast are a team unwilling to succumb to pre-season predictions. Few would have bet on them being up challenging for a European place but this win sees them in fourth place, level on points with third-placed Hearts.

After a sprightly start from Hibs, they took the lead through debutant Lee Croft. The attacking midfielder was bright and gave young Callum Booth a torrid time as he rampaged down the right flank, pressing for the byline one minute and wrong footing him, evading tackles as he cut inside the next. The goal then was just reward for his endeavours and came in the 29th minute. The initial shot was blocked by Paul Hanlon but he buried the second effort.

With both teams pressing and St Johnstone edging it in terms of the better chances, they weren’t clinical to really punish the Hibs rearguard and they suffered when Hibs equalised in the 69th minute. Steven Anderson was judged to have impeded Leigh Griffiths and the home striker, who was the key performer for his side, stepped up to send Peter Enckelman the wrong way from the spot and leave the ball nestled in the bottom corner of the net.

That was the start of some Hibs defensive nonsense and the resultant goal glut. A minute later St Johnstone had regained the lead when David Stephens failed to deal with a long ball and Liam Craig forced him to pay the price.

By this stage the play was end to end with St Johnstone boss Lomas describing the final 21 minutes as an enthralling spectacle as Hibs sought a way back into things and St Johnstone looked for the goal to seal matters. It was Hibs who netted first, though. This time Booth showed greater prowess going forward than he had at the back and in the 83rd minute whipped in a low effort to beat Enckelman. But again Hibs showed little durability and, three minutes later, Fran Sandaza displayed the finishing ability which Rangers may have been rash to give up on. It was all too easy for the striker as he wheeled and shot.

Billy Brown said it has been the story of Hibs’ season. It’s a horror story and there needs to be a twist in it soon.

Comments

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17

the unbiased view

Monday, January 23, 2012 at 08:58 AM

12 - sad to say I have to agree fully with your analysis however I also said as soon as they appointed Fenlon that this would prove to be a fatal error and unlike the last time when McLeish could not stop the drop I think the clubs will take many seasons to get back to the SPL I truly hope that I will be posting my apologies here in a few weeks time and that I have got it wrong for the City and the SPL desperately need clubs like Hibs to survive. At Dunfermline it was estimated that Hibs had an away following in excess of 4000 whilst St Johnstone had 168 fans at ER I rest my case !

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16

GrahamH

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 11:30 PM

Soon find out what Fenlon is made of. Before yesterday's gesture by Griffiths he had warned him publicly to Scotsman last week saying, “He’s got to learn quickly or he’s not going to play,” Fenlon said after learning that Hibs had failed in their bid to contest the suspension, which rules Griffiths out of the club’s next Scottish Cup match. “If that is what is going to continue throughout the season, then he’s not going to play, because I can’t have players that are going to be suspended on a regular basis.”

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15

Mackie

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 08:15 PM

Hammy1874. I agree! Nothing personal Mr Fenlon, but the board that you are working under are not qualified to know what Hibs need in terms of a good manager, as their past efforts to find suitable candidates and all aspects of their current position portrays, clearly. You need football people at the helm of the ship Mr. Farmer, people who understand sport and football, not folk who are good at tying up the club legally and financially. Change is required.

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14

The Green Green Grass of Home

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 03:14 PM

I trust Pat to get us back into the SPL at the first attempt, I don't trust him to keep us up this season however.

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13

Safe Harbour

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 12:42 PM

#11 I would agree that Sproule could do with better direction from the bench. It's also undeniable that his best performances when he was previously at Hibs were when he came on as a sub. The whole place was given a lift and, many times, he made a huge difference.

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12

Hammy1874

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 11:51 AM

Honest question here.... do any Hibs fans think they have got another dud manager? Fenlons record is astonishingly bad. He has only registered one league win since arriving, and that was against the only team below Hibs in the league. What has he done to rectify the glaring deficiencies in the team? Every (sensible) Hibs poster on here cries out for a couple of decent defenders, and a leader in the middle of the park. What does Pat do? Buys a centre forward from the Irish league. It might have gone unnoticed by many, but, Dunfermline brought in Mark Kerr this week, and went on to win 3-0 at Killie. Kerr is exactly the type of player Hibs need.... a bit of a Paul Hartley type, in your face, shouting, snapping into tackles, but with a great eye for a pass and a goal. How did he slip through the net, especially when he was in the paper last Sunday looking for a club? That result for the Pars will give them a massive boost, and, they appear to have a far better team ethic than Hibs. They might not be better players, but, they appear far more up for the fight. In three weeks time, given the run of games coming up, Hibs could easily be three or four points adrift at the bottom. With little time left in this transfer window, I cant believe Fenlon has not done more to change the make up of the team. I dont think he is helped by BB either..... known only for his ability to rant players, not for coaching or tactics. This scenario has been on the cards for quite a while now... the trend at Easter Road has been in a downward fashion for the last three years. An untried outsider from the Irish league was a huge gamble, and I dont think it is one that is going to pay off.

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11

Hen Broon

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 11:43 AM

#10 Agree a bit harsh on Sproule . I was referring to him not working in areas he needs to work. eg when the other team have the ball.

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10

Safe Harbour

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 11:34 AM

#4 As I say, the impression I got at the match was that Brown could have done better. Apart from the goals there was one save when he tipped the ball over the bar and even that would have been saved by any competent GK. I didn't see these other great saves you mention that saved us from a heavier defeat. I'll look with interest when the highlights come on BBC. To accuse Sproule of not trying is daft. He didn't have a great game and was rightly subbed but he always tries. I agree with your point about Francombe. He took a place in midfield that would have been much better filled by Wotherspoon or Galbraith. St Johnstone are a better team than we are and it shows in the midfield where they were organised and we weren't.

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9

Voice from the Stand

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Totally agree with #5. Refreshing to see some honest comments from Hibs fans. As a Hearts fan I do not want to see Hibs go down as the loss of the derbies for both clubs would be costly. The buzz and excitement generated by these are second to none win, lose or draw. The SPL needs a strong Hearts and Hibs. Now if only we or another provincial team could break the duopoly of the OF. The SPL may start to get interesting and be able to up its TV revenue way above what it currently gets. Winners all round - apart from the OF of course!

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8

Radge21

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 10:37 AM

#2 Brown your goalie is Hearts daft. A good Jambo boy.

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7

donald marr

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 09:38 AM

Hibs conceded far two many chances and in truth could have lost this game by a few more. It's doubtful whether any of the defense are good enough at this level. Strong teams are built from the back and have a strong spine. Something could be salvaged from the season yet with some shrewdness.The first requirement as a matter of urgency is a center half. I wish Fenlon had addressed this need before now.

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6

1874 Jam Tarts

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 08:55 AM

David Weir for hibs - ho ho ho!

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5

Away Down in Gorgie

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 08:42 AM

Hearts fans here - never saw the game on BBC Alba as I was coming home from another abject away performance in Inverness. Anyway just wanted to say it was refreshing reading real Hibs fans perspective on things - before the usual suspects take over. Whilst I think Hibs are quite a bit better than the Pars - they are being isolated at the bottom with them.

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4

Hen Broon

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 08:36 AM

#2 I think your predujice is showing with all due respect. Brown had no chance with the goals and saved Hibs from losing 2 or 3 more. Totally inept back 4. Totally inept from a defensive midfield perspective.Throw in a couple of non triers in Sproule & GOC and it is another defeat. Thought Griffiths was MoM & Booth was very good coming forward but again left exposed to 'one on ones' when STJ attacked. The manager has to take his share of the blame. What is the point of signing a right back to fill an achilies heel position and then playing him in midfiels. To be fair he took him off after what was a poor contribution. STJ are up there competing for 3rd with Motherwell & Hearts because that is where they deserve to be. Hibs are in serious trouble as PARS were not expected to beat Killie away & with Hibs having both halves of the OF within their next 3 games & the Pars playing their game in hand over Hibs Hibs could well hit rock bottom . Either way there can be little doubt that it is a 2 way scrap as the clubs above are simply far superior. CROPLEY: Haber was superb v Hearts as well and as you say it proves that if you do your homework there are good affordable players.

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3

Cropley

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 02:10 AM

#2 Thanks for the point re Sheridan. It was Haber ( subbed by Sheridan) No 23 who i thought had a stormer. Mobile , great touch and caused no end of bother. Hope it was Haber but just shows that there are players out there, not household names, who can come in and play. Got it wrong there , long day.

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