St Johnstone 3 - 1 Hibernian: Saints blessed by opposition’s familiar lack of belief
St Johnstone's Dave Mackay beats the Hibernian wall to score his side's third of the game. Photo: Jeff Holmes
BEFORE his first match as Hibernian manager, Pat Fenlon signed autographs, posed for the odd photo and shook hands with supporters who wished him luck. Heaven knows, he will need it.
BEFORE his first match as Hibernian manager, Pat Fenlon signed autographs, posed for the odd photo and shook hands with supporters who wished him luck. Heaven knows, he will need it. Preferring to take a back seat until he has a full week of training under his belt, the Irishman saw from his berth in the directors’ box the scale of the challenge ahead.
In an ugly encounter ruined by the conditions, Hibs took an early lead thanks to Richie Towell, threw it away with two soft goals in quick succession and thereafter showed the chronic lack of confidence that has paralysed them lately.
Had Marcus Haber’s late shot not slammed off the woodwork, this could have been quite a caning for a group of players who were supposed to be playing for their future.
How Fenlon must hope that he can emulate his fellow Irishman, Steve Lomas, who has made a flying start with St Johnstone. This was a comfortable home debut for Lomas, who presided over a scoreless draw at Ibrox seven days earlier. Don’t even think about suggesting to the arriving Hibs manager that taking charge of a successful side is more difficult.
It was an awkward day for Billy Brown, the assistant manager who has been in charge of Hibs since Colin Calderwood’s departure. As he patrolled the technical area, trying his best to be professional during his last match in charge, Fenlon was seated just a few rows behind the dugout. To make matters worse, the new manager had alongside him Liam O’Brien, the former Newcastle United player who was his No.2 at Bohemians.
Brown, who has yet to discuss his future with Fenlon, says that he would like to remain at Easter Road, but only if he is allowed to make a meaningful contribution. “I’ll see what he wants me to do, how I would fit in,” said Brown. “I’ll have a wee blether with him and see what the score is. I like it here. I like to be in football. I have a lot of enthusiasm for football. I like being at a big club. If it is possible I can do something here – I don’t just want to be an add-on – I would like to stay. But it’s up to Pat. He is the manager.”
This was Brown’s second match in charge, neither of which has resulted in victory. He said that the performance typified Hibs this season: fine when they are not under pressure, but when their opponents turn up the heat, they cannot handle it. He said that a couple of victories would lift them out of relegation trouble, but he wasn’t sure where those victories would come from.
“It’s a difficult task when you look at the results this season. I don’t want to be a doom and gloom merchant, but you can’t kid anybody on. Facts are facts. It’s going to be difficult to turn this round… but not impossible.
“The players are going to have to stand up and be counted. They are not doing it. I told them at half-time that their jobs are on the line. Hibs are a big club. They shouldn’t be in this position but they are because they haven’t done well enough. You can sack every manager you want, but if it’s the same players, and they get the same results, they’ve got to get their fingers out.”
Oddly, the outlook didn’t seem to be so bad for Hibs, who were a goal up after half an hour of this one. Peter Enckelman had done well to parry a shot by Leigh Griffiths, but the ball broke to Towell, whose shot spun in off the St Johnstone goalkeeper. It was Towell’s first goal for Hibs, unless you count the own goal he put in St Johnstone’s net at the same venue eight months ago.
A free header, fluffed by Martin Scott a couple of minutes later, suggested that Hibs’ new era might be off and running, but it didn’t work out that way. Not only did they let their opponents back into the game, they granted them a pair of preposterously easy goals just before half-time.
The first one did David Stephens’ prospects under Fenlon no good whatsoever. The big defender let it slip between his legs and allowed Fran Sandaza to hit the post from 12 yards. With the goalkeeper grounded, St Johnstone’s in-form striker netted the rebound.
Six minutes later, the home side had turned the game on its head, although the ease with which it was scored will not have gone unnoticed by their new leader. Haber, on as a substitute for Cillian Sheridan – who pulled up with a hamstring injury after only eight minutes – was hardly challenged as he rose at the back post to nod a Dave Mackay cross back across the goal-line.
On the touchline, Lomas was wearing the St Johnstone scarf that worked for him at Ibrox, but there was more than that to keep him warm. Two minutes after the interval, his team had scored their third, again after a mistake by Stephens. When he conceded a free-kick just outside the penalty area, Liam Craig stepped over the dead ball, allowing Mackay to curl it round the wall and in off the right-hand post.
As the weather deteriorated, so did the football. Hibs tried to respond, but they created little. Danny Galbraith, a second-half replacement for Martin Scott, set up a chance for Junior Agogo, another substitute, but his header flopped over the bar.
As Ivan Sproule admitted later, some of these players are not going to survive under the new regime.
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Comments
There are 56 comments to this article
Page 1 of 4
Hobo Harry
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 08:37 PM55MrHibs07-1973 I said last week that is the is the first time I have beem optimistic abgout an appointment for a long time. I wonder if some of the players already believe they are as good as finished at Hibs.
MrHibs07-1973
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 08:31 PMEvening Harry........... Top six should be our new managers aim. Then work and build on that for next season. I'm quite exited at Fenlon as boss, he looks a no nonsense bloke. Just what we need here. I posted earlier that he walked into the dressing room at full time, spoke to Billy Brown and didn't even Acknowledge the players, which should get them thinking they are in for a tough time, when they report for training. The more i read about Pat Fenlon. The more i say Yes, he's the right man this time.
Hen Broon
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 08:27 PMyep all about opinions and i see no reason for you to be to be anything other than positive .
Hobo Harry
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 08:19 PM52talko'thetoun I think we both know it's all opinions, I don't think they were good enough to play for Hibs but it's all in the past anyway. What I am sure about is my confidence in the new man. I hope and believe that we are about to go onwards and upwards. It will be next season before we see real progress, Rome wasn't built in a day and all that, but I'm sure we are heading the right way.
Hen Broon
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 08:12 PMHH of course u r ....i was not suggesting otherwise......i am a Hearts fan with an opinion so i could hardly complain about an ex pat Hibby having one.......i was just saying it is easier to be objective if not enduring the 90 mins if not good....... agree too early to judge new players but equally poor management effected rankin hogg DVZ etc and currentlythey are holding down places with teams above Hibs which might suggest that they were better players than some thought.
Hobo Harry
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 07:59 PM50 talko'thetoun Before my move to the USA I did my time in the trenches at Easter Road and watched some awful football at times so I am perfectly entitled to say my piece. The question of whether the new players are inferior is all down to opinion. I don't think they are but the lack of a really good manager (as you have pointed out) was a major factor in how they have played.
Hen Broon
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 07:44 PMi m off to ly down HH citing my opinion in a debate ! To be fair it is easier to be upbeat from afar and to be fair Hibs are down to their most loal fans at the moment but not getting 100 % behind the new man makes no sense. Looking at Hibs games he has a tough baptism and he has to try and get results with a squad that is low in confidence ......hence it is up to the fans not to let their frustrations get the better of them. RE the Hogg Rankine debate.....my point was that they were discarded and replaced with inferior players......hence not really about hether or not they deserved POTY awards but whether their replacements inprved the team.......results suggest that they were at best no better. Without a doubt there will be 2 or 3 players that represent good value that the manager will know from the Irish league.......it would be a false economy for Petrie not to back their procurement.
Hobo Harry
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 07:14 PM48ianfaeclerrie Of course we have been poor for a while, no-one needs to state the bleedin obvious. TOTT gets it, just the same as I do, that a new manager can make all the difference and thats why I am quite happy to see what PF does with the club and the playing squad. For the meantime however, he has to work with the players we already have and the last thing he and the players need is to hear andor read the derogatory rubbish being spouted by yourself and others. Can you begin to imgine how the players would feel if just for once the stadium was rocking with cheers and support?
ianfaeclerrie
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 06:34 PMOK Hobo- I was in the same position as you - lived in the US for 11 years but since I came home it's more obvious to me how short-tempered the supporters have become. I don't think I speak for everyone - I have something in common with those who boo as we all go to all the games but I have got to the point where I think we're so awful that it's funny. At Parkheid we weren't great by Smeltic were worse, god knows how we drew with Killie and beat St Mirren - they were both better than us. I take it you watched the game, either live or via the Hibs TV highlights. There wasn't a lot to feel optimistic about.
Hobo Harry
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 06:12 PM45 ianfaeclerrie Still don't get the joke. You are as bad as the dafties at the AGM who, to listen to them, think they speak for all Hibs fans. You claim that Hibs fans are getting intolerant, not all of them are so don't talk for all of them. I for one am happy to wait for Pat Fenlong to make an impact, as I am quite sure he will. Also, no I was not booing yesterday, never done that in my life to a Hibs player and besides, I would have to boo awfully loudly for them to hear me from Kansas City.
boozy
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 06:08 PMHearts find themselves in a similar position to Hibs a while back, no money so having to go with youth. There is no better feeling , than to see your own youngsters make it to the top, but you also have to be able to handle the fact the best will inevitably be sold.
ianfaeclerrie
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 05:57 PMHoBo - let me explain the joke. We have had multiple managers in the past few years, with their time in the job getting less with each one. Hibs supporters are getting more intolerant. So, after only one game where he is not even coaching the team, we want him out, showing how fickle we are. Were you one of the supporters booing at half time yesterday? I wasn't. Harbour - let's see how eccentric my views are on our performance yesterday:- Stack - set up hois wall wrongly, should have stopped the header at the back post, should have put Sandaza's shot round the post - poor performance. Wotherspoon - awful. One great cross in the single time he overlapped. In answer to Talk's question - Kevin McCann is still a very good player, playing for Morton while we do not have a RB! Hanlon - poor game, great skill as ever and very good coming forward. Skinned too often. Stephens - two mistakes which cost us dearly. Piuty - he has really been improving - needs to boot it out of the park sometimes. O'Hanlon. should have got to the header at the back post, couple of decent tackles, never rated him but he was OK yesterday Towell - Cannae pass the ball - we brought him in as a RB and that is where he should have been playing. Good to see him score. Ozzie - a real disappointment the past two games - looks very skileld but his performances are poor - never appeasr to sprint. Sroule - rubbish the whole game and the last three Lewis - God. Two mistakes - passes incredibly accurately and hard - never stopped tackling, running off the ball and being creative. Jimmy Scott - anonymous from start to finish. Sparky - Tired but always a threat - should have scored from Wotherspoon's great cross. Agogo - should have been on from the start in front of the bavk 4 - - stuck up front near the end in a hopeless position Sodje - Cannae see why he would be in the team - ever danny Galbraith - awfy sad but he's had every chance and not made the grade
Hen Broon
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 05:26 PM#42 They will not all make it HH but I cite Motherwell as an example .I want to see Hearts & Hibs (in that order) up there challenging the OF as frankly their joint attempts over my 40 plus years supporting Hearts are pathetic.........I think they have both been in the top 4 together only a couple of times.it is two bald men arguing over a comb.........it all comes down to who the manager is.......no doubting the quality Eddire T had but IMO he was the the main reason they competed with the OF & Alex MacD done with a team of journeyman and a group of promising teenagers.
Safe Harbour
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 05:10 PM#29"I have forgotten now, remind me what your excuse was for Hogg making Player of the Year - were all the supporters wrong?" I never made an excuse for Hogg being player of the year so I'm not surprised you can't remember. I gave my opinion of him as I saw it. Most supporters came round to my way of thinking eventually so that now there's not many, apart from you, who consider him a loss. Incidently, I didn't vote for him as player of the year and I didn't meet anyone else who did. I met plenty though who agreed with me that he was rubbish and a cheat to boot. So, calm yourself. You may like to reflect that you're outside the mainstream of opinion for a reason...perhaps your eccentric views on Hibs which suggest to some that you're not one of the faithful. Not me though. I once saw your banner at ER and I assume you were there with it.
Hobo Harry
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 05:10 PM39 talko'thetoun Again I hope you are right but I don't share your confidence. The world is full of players who looked good at a young age then failed to make the grade and the SPL is not a very great place for young and skilful players to flourish. They will, without doubt find it a huge step up to first team football and I hope they don't suffer any heavy defeats early on. In spite of the rivalry you have never seen a post from me which wished disaster on Hearts and I hope they continue to thrive. I would love to see a Premier League in which Hibs and Hearts were the dominant teams (in that order of course) :)
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