Hibernian 2 - 0 Falkirk: Hibs not at their best, but another victory keeps them sitting pretty

Published on Sunday 29 November 2009 21:48

CAN Hibs fans dare to dream? Even contemplate an end to the Old Firm title duopoly?

Just over a third into the season, perhaps not. But there can be little doubt at least splitting Celtic and Rangers, as Hearts did in 2006, is far from improbable.

The fact the Edinburgh side have joined Rangers in second spot, just two points behind leaders Celtic, without yet clicking into top gear offers further grounds for optimism.

A Derek Riordan brace – taking his tally to eight for the campaign – bore the hallmark of a growing Hibs strength, the ability to find goals when they are not at their best. Falkirk may prop up the SPL but their performance deserved more, only for a sweet Riordan volley, with the aid of a deflection off Brian McLean, and another late emphatic finish to halt their mini-revival and ease the home tension. "We're better than what we showed, but it's always nice to know I have guys in my locker who can score goals," said Easter Road boss John Hughes. The ex-Bairns manager is too canny to look too far ahead and his players are also not discussing targets, but confidence is clearly growing after a ninth league match unbeaten.

Left-back Ian Murray, who picked up a shoulder knock, said: "We've been grinding out results without playing our best most of the season. We've not hit our top form at all yet, bar a couple of 45 minutes. So to keep winning 1-0, 2-0 is very satisfying. It seems that the Old Firm, one of them every week, is dropping points and it's making it exciting not just for us but for other teams."

Riordan's 33th-minute strike deflated Falkirk further after they had an opening 'goal' disallowed when the assistant referee ruled the ball had gone out of play before Darren Barr cut-back for Ryan Flynn to net. Manager Eddie May, surprisingly, agreed. "It was a big moment, but the officials in this country are not corrupt. If he thought it was out it was out, no complaints at all."

Colin Nish was denied a quick second by a clawed save from Robert Olejnik on the line, but Hibs lost the impetus after the break to offer the visitors heart. Goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay, a half-time replacement for back victim Graham Stack, was perhaps a root cause. The Belgian's eccentrics nearly put his side in trouble, although he possessed the height to tip a Pedro Moutinho chip onto the bar. How May could do with a clinical finisher in the Riordan mould. "It's a very young team, but one with quality – we're slowly but surely getting it right," he countered.

Hughes, thanks to reforming the likes of Riordan, Liam Miller and Anthony Stokes, has fast-tracked Hibs. With Rangers likely to be forced to sell in January, perhaps this is the club's season to make a serious and lasting challenge. "Maybe around Christmas time we'll get vertigo," Murray joked. "We keep hanging in there. But we've not talked too much about the possibility of doing something – or in regards to third place either. We've just got to go out and try and win all the games we can."

MAN OF THE MATCH

Derek Riordan (Hibernian)

George Burley called on the striker for the sum of just 28 minutes in his final two friendlies against Japan and Wales. On this form, his Scotland successor is unlikely to be so sparing. The 26-year-old is scoring, working tirelessly and showing a new maturity. Is the bad-boy image consigned to history?