Buck stops with crumbling Easter Road defence

HIBERNIAN'S defence has gone from being the most dependable in the league, to by far the leakiest in recent months.

In the first 16 matches of the SPL season, Hibs conceded only ten goals – the best in the league, along with Rangers who had also conceded ten at that stage of the campaign. In their past seven SPL fixtures, however, Hibs have shipped an alarming 21 goals, six of them coming last night at Fir Park.

Perhaps the turning point for Hibs was the 4-1 defeat at home to Rangers on 27 December. Since that match John Hughes' back line has struggled to find any consistency. That defeat also coincided with the temporary loss of central defender Sol Bamba, who had been a rock for Hibs in the first half of the season. Bamba's presence was missed then, and he was absent again through suspension for the Edinburgh derby on Saturday, which Hibs lost 2-1, and last night's 6-6 draw.

While Hibs have scored 56 goals this term, the defence has now conceded a total of 55 goals in their 37 SPL matches to date – a figure that has been swollen by defeats such as a 4-1 humbling at Hamilton and a 5-1 thrashing by St Johnstone.

It is clear where the buck stops for Hibs' woes.