I will keep using 4-5-1 formation, says Hibs’ Pat Fenlon

HIBS manager Pat Fenlon will reserve the right to continue playing one striker despite admitting he had probably got his William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final team selection wrong.

Fenlon changed from a 4-5-1 formation to a 4-4-2 after Hibs went 3-0 down against Falkirk at Hampden nine days ago and the change paid dividends.

Substitute Eoin Doyle was among the goalscorers after joining two-goal Leigh Griffiths up front as the Hibees won 4-3 to reach the final, but the Easter Road manager might revert to fielding a lone striker when Aberdeen visit in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League tonight after insisting that the tactic can be successful.

When asked whether he would look to play two strikers more often, Fenlon said: “We have done that, we have done that over the course of the season.

“People get hung up on formations and tell me we should be playing two up front. Yet we have gone to games and won 4-2 in the cup (at Kilmarnock) with one up front and 4-0 in the league (at Motherwell) with one up front.

“So I will pick and choose the team and the formations the way I think it will benefit the club.”

Fenlon faces a new dugout rival tonight in the form of Derek McInnes, who takes charge of Aberdeen for the first time.

Both sides spent much of the opening months of the season in the top half of the SPL, but meet tonight in their first bottom-six fixture. Fenlon believes there will be plenty to play for at Easter Road.

“Obviously Aberdeen have a new manager and they will be looking to start as well as possible under the new manager,” Fenlon said.

“They are similar to ourselves, disappointed they got done on the last day and in the last minute as well.

“They will feel, with the squad they have, they probably should be in the top six, and we feel the same.

“I suppose you have two teams who have a point to prove.”