Hibernian 2 - 0 Motherwell: Hibs growing accustomed to life at the top

Published on Sunday 6 December 2009 23:27

AT PRESENT Hibernian are doing no more than hanging around the top of the table as if they were curious passers-by, whistling quietly to themselves and doing their best to appear inconspicuous.

Ask them if they have any thoughts of taking up residence and they come over all coy, like social climbers visiting a show house well beyond their budget.

No, no, they insist. Not stopping. Just having a look at how the other half lives.

Very nice it is too, but not for the likes of us. This downplaying of expectations has been John Hughes' policy since the first day of the season, and understandably so. Having newly arrived at the club and set about building a newside,Hughes wanted his team to be given time to grow. He knew the inconsistency which had been Hibs'downfall and hallmark for years could not be erased within months.

To an extent the manager has been proven right.

His team have been fortunate to win the odd game, blown hot and cold at times, and are arguably very reliant on a couple of key players. Take Republic of Ireland international Liam Miller out of the equation, for example, and Hibs might well struggle to hold their own in midfield.

On the other hand,more than a third of the way through the season, the improvements wrought by Hughes look durable.

There is still room in the team for mercurial performers such as Merouane Zemmama, and still a need to include young players such as David Wotherspoon who will make mistakes every so often. But there is also a steely spine to the side which has not been there for some time, and which is steadily giving the lie to the club's reputationfor fine yet fragile football.

Defenders Chris Hogg, Sol Bamba and Ian Murray are hardened campaigners at this level. Miller – "the find of the season", Hughes called him after Saturday's victory – has the grit to complement his creativity in the centre of the park. And up front the manager has almost an embarrassment of options.

Having lost only twice in the league to date, Hibs are undeniably close to the top on merit. Behind second-placed Rangers only on goal Difference, they have an especially appetising homeencounter with the Ibrox club coming up two days after Christmas.

In a campaign in which both halves of the Old Firm are embarrassingly

mediocre by their own standards, Hughes' team may not have a better chance for a long time to split the duopoly – something last achieved by their city rivals Hearts in 2005-06.

Certainly,the way in which they disposed of Motherwell will have stoked their own supporters'optimism, and further enthused the many neutrals who long for another challenge to the big two. Jim Gannon's team had lost only once before thismatch – at home to the Easter Road side back in September – and with eight draws to their name had become extremely difficult to break down.

For all that they rarely looked like scoring themselves, Mother-well gave further proof of their toughness in defence in a first half

dominated by Hibs.

Wayward shooting allowed visiting goalkeeper John Ruddy a virtually inactive first half-hour, but he was then called into action to deal with a curling John Rankin effort and a chip by Derek Riordan, both of which he tipped over the crossbar.

Just as frustration might have been creeping in, however, Hibs made the breakthrough with a swift counter-attack. Anthony Stokes stayed just onside to gather a lob from Riordan, and while his shot was not the most cleanly struck he will ever deliver, it was hit firmly enough to find the net low to Ruddy's left.

The same player made sure of the points ten minutes into the second half, scoring with a shot from the edge of the box after striking partner Colin Nish had teed him up. A deflection looped the ball over Ruddy, but Stokes' shot had at least been on target, and he rightly claimed the goal.

Motherwell put enough effort into an attempted fightback, and might have had something to show for it had Jim Murphy been awarded a penalty after being tripped by Bamba. Instead, he was booked for simulation.

That 66th-minute incident, while producing nothing but a yellowcard for Motherwell, could, if it had brought about a goal from the spot, have induced a nervous ending for Hibs.

And that, after they had dominated proceedings for so long, would have posed a question about their ability to put opponents away.

But the table reflects what has happened, not what could or would have occurred. So Hibs are still up there, level with one of their rivals, just two points behindthe other.

And, no matter their denials, looking more at home with every passing week.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Anthony Stokes (Hibernian)

The Irishman translated Hibs' superiority into goals with a strike either side of half-time. Although his second went in only thanks to a fortunate deflection, his first owed nothing to luck.

Chris Hogg and Liam Miller were among Stokes' team-mates to be almost as influential on Saturday, but the former Arsenal and Sunderland striker was the one who made the crucial difference.