Gary O’Connor’s barren run no worry for Hibs boss

Hibs boss Colin Calderwood today insisted striker Garry O’Connor’s barren run in front of goal isn’t a cause for concern.

O’Connor began the season in blistering form with ten goals from 11 games, but the 28-year-old hasn’t found the net since claiming a double against St Johnstone five matches ago.

However, Calderwood insisted it is up to others to provide the Easter Road outfit with a greater goal threat rather than becoming over-reliant on their team-mate.

While expressing the hope O’Connor’s next goal may be “just round the corner,” Calderwood said: “We have people in the team who can finish so we have to be positive and create chances. We want to help him [O’Connor] add to that goal tally but we also need that to come from other areas so that was the importance of Sean O’Hanlon scoring at St Mirren.”

Pointing out that Leigh Griffiths had also claimed his first goals in a green and white shirt in that 3-2 win in Paisley, Calderwood said: “We have to make sure we are not reliant on Garry, that if he is not scoring we are not scoring.

“It’s not something that will particularly bother me if we continue to score goals.”

To that end Calderwood has promised a “positive but not Kamikaze” approach to tomorrow’s SPL clash with Dunfermline who have conceded 24 goals in failing to win any of their last eight matches.

And he stressed the importance of claiming what would be only a second home win since February after seeing his side pick up four points from those visits to St Mirren and Celtic.

Meanwhile, Hibs’ SPL match against Dundee United at Tannadice on Christmas Eve will now kick-off at the earlier time of 1.30pm.