Hibs far from pitch perfect as Jack Ross forced to find a new approach

Hibs manager Jack Ross has revealed that his players are having to adapt their style of play for home games, as the condition of the Easter Road pitch continues to throw up problems for many of them.

Playing conditions at Easter Road during Saturday's match between Hibs and Kilmarnock. Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group

The patchy turf had been treated with sand ahead of the weekend fixture with Kilmarnock but it was still not conducive to a slick, passing game.

Gaffer Ross admitted “it wasn’t a pretty game, the pitch isn’t great” but, despite an uninspiring first half, he was happy his men found solutions in the second half and were able to claim all three points.

“It is hard, it really is. For the ball carriers, it’s nigh-on impossible and even moving the ball from side to side becomes a challenge. We spoke about it before the game but sometimes the players have to see it for themselves. The game was ugly but you need to find a way to win.”

Four home games in November, followed by four out of five at the ground during the two week festive period, proved challenging for the groundstaff, with recent weather conditions doing little to help.

Paul McGinn spoke after the recent Ross County game about how it was slowing play down as players were being forced to take an extra touch, but Ross says it is something his team will need to get used to.

“Colin [Fraser], who looks after it, has done as much as he can and probably should have had more resources, albeit I understand in the current climate that’s not easy to do.

“But, we can’t do anything about it now. It’s not going to get any better.”

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