Hibs goal hero Christian Doidge ‘doesn’t know how good he is’

Manager Jack Ross hails Welshman after match-winning strike against Dundee United

Hibs striker Christian Doidge celebrates with manager Jack Ross at full-time at Tannadice. Picture: Mark Scates/SNS Group

Hibs manager Jack Ross saluted match winner Christian Doidge after Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Dundee United and claimed the striker does not know how good he is.

The Welshman scored the 20th goal of his short time at Easter Road to put Hibs three points clear at the top of the Premiership for 24 hours at least.

“He’s a massive asset for me,” said Ross. “He’s a brilliant boy, really, really humble and down to earth.

“If anything, he probably sometimes doesn’t appreciate how good he is and what he has done in terms of the goals he has scored.

“We are trying to grow that in him. He is so unselfish in his work and he has scored goals consistently for me since I came to the club in November. He’s made a massive impact in my time here. He’s a big asset.”

Ross praised his side’s more rugged abilities as they overcame newly promoted United in a tough battle at Tannadice.

Hibs shone in an attacking sense in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Livingston but had to display a different side to their game last night. “What we had last season was an attacking threat,” he said. “We scored goals. We were up there with the highest scorers in the league. But we were a little bit soft at times. So we needed to rectify that.

“Alex Gogic coming in has helped us, but so has having players with the ability to move between a back three and a back four. That means we can be more open or more solid, depending on how the game is going.

“They’ve been terrific defensively over the course of the three games,” he added. “We haven’t conceded from open play yet. Chris Burke’s free-kick on the opening day of the season (v Kilmarnock) was remarkable, and then it was a penalty on Saturday against Livingston.”

United manager Micky Mellon was heartened by his side’s display despite the defeat. “We have made the transition up, we have more than held our own against one of the top teams in the league,” he said. United were missing last season’s top scorer Lawrence Shankland for the second game in a row due to an ankle injury. Mellon said he hoped to have the striker back for this weekend’s trip to Ross County.

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