Grant Stott: Diamonds amongst the dross light way ahead

TWO games and two defeats this week tells its own story, but those of us who were at Easter Road for both the Dundee United and Celtic games at least saw a much-improved performance over the two games.

On Wednesday night just after Patrick Cregg scored his very sweet and very early opener, my Dad turned to me and said I only hope we don't see an end result like we did the last time we scored in the opening minute, referring of course to the drubbing we copped from Rangers after Stokes scored within seconds. This, we now know, is exactly what happened.

We started better, we scored first and then, when things started going against us, the heads went down and as the game wore on things just got worse.

Yogi seemed to be trying out a new formation on Wednesday, bringing Cregg into the midfield and leaving Stokes on the bench, and, to be honest, at the start it looked like it might have worked out.

But, in the second half, we really lost our way and ended up with strikers aplenty but little in midfield.

Yesterday was always going to be a game where everybody's game was up and without question Celtic were there for the taking.

They are basically having to win games to save face at the moment and are far from their strongest and we highlighted that with the amount of the game that we had – especially in the first half.

I think most agree that their penalty was harsh but still a penalty, with many around me thinking that an indirect free kick should have been awarded.

We're now entering into the technical side of the game so I'll leave it by just saying I felt Stokes knew very little about McGeady being anywhere near him and absolutely played for the ball and caught McGeady's oxter before he knew anything about it.

As much as we pressed, we created very little end product with our own distribution very often letting us down.

Mind you, had Derek Riordan's magnificent second-half shot just been inches lower then we'd have witnessed a contender for goal of the season.

Again, this just highlights what he is capable of and how special a player he is for Hibs.

Unfortunately Liam Miller didn't reproduce the scintillating form he had when we last played Celtic at Parkhead and we've really missed his creativity in the middle of the park over the last few weeks. His talent and ability is without question but, for me, he just hasn't been as focused as he was when he first arrived. Stand-outs over the two games, though, must be Ian Murray and Sol Bamba. Murray was voted the Edinburgh Suite Player of the month for March yesterday and was welcomed in by the fans, in fine voice, asking for "a team of Ian Murrays" – such is his dedication to the cause.

When I interviewed him, it's very obvious that he is every bit as frustrated as every single Hibs fan is at the moment but keen to stress that year on year, Hibs have improved and, in time, things will come good.

Sol Bamba has also found the form he had before he went away to the African Nations Cup and is just terrific for us at the back.

"He never stopped chasing balls and flying in for tackles and I think he made sure every Celtic player knew he was there throughout the game.

I must also single out Patrick Cregg, who is someone who had the dig and tenacity that we've been lacking in the middle of the park and isn't scared to stick the foot in. A tougher approach like his from some other players might not go amiss on the end of season run in.

So, one more game against Hamilton and then the split kicks in and, as much as we're still close to the third spot, if United take care of St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park tonight then I'd say it's as good as theirs.

Fourth place might yet be good enough for a European place, which is absolutely Hibs' aim and, if they can carry through the performance from Sunday and start picking up some points, then there is no reason why Yogi won't get his targeted trip to Europe in his first season.

Glory, Glory!

Turnbull will put wind up Yogi

YOGI'S touchline ban continues and I noticed that, yesterday afternoon, he sat in the directors' box next to Rod Petrie and Mr Eddie Turnbull.

Having spoken to the former manager of the side known as "Turnbull's Tornadoes" and Famous Five legend on a number of occasions, I'm quite sure he wouldn't be one to hold back on telling Mr Hughes EXACTLY where he thinks he's going wrong!