Hibs’ Under 20s will be in League action tonight against Celtic at Livingston’s Energy Asset Arena (kick off 6pm, admission is via donation to a bucket collection around the stadium).
Celtic under-20s are currently top of the SPFL U20 League table with James McDonaugh’s youngsters in third place – five points behind, although last season Hibs managed to defeat Celtic twice in three days during the final stages of the season.
A few first team players are expected to be included in James McDonaugh’s starting line-up for tonight’s match and team news will be announced on twitter before the match.
Meanwhile, Hibs’ EOS suffered a rare Central Taxis First Division defeat on Saturday; losing 3-2 at Kelso United.
Youngster Lewis Allan scored twice, but Hibs’ EOS still experienced only their second defeat of the East of Scotland League season and meant Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare claimed top spot.
But Hibs’ EOS can still win the Central Taxis First Division championship by bridging the two-point gap; starting with the game Ormiston on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.
Head of Academy Coaching McDonaugh believes Hibernian EOS were punished for their errors down in the Borders.
He told Hibernian TV: “I think the game was very difficult in terms of the pitch and wind; however we almost made the most if it, almost though in football is never enough.
“We were clinically punished for terrible individual errors for Kelso’s three goals which you can legislate for.
“Throughout the game I thought we played the conditions very well, but just had too many players off form at the same time.
“There were five or six who carried the team and that’s never going to be enough to win. Lewis Allan was our best player and I have to give him a lot of credit for keeping us in the game with his first goal.
“It was just one of those games where their keeper made 8-10 top saves and we couldn’t beat him. For the majority of the game we defended very well but for three bad moments I would have been applauding my lads.
“The result now leaves us chasing in the race for the league, again, we want to win but the focus has always been about player development.
“Therefore as long as these mistakes are worked on and eradicated then the young lads will have a chance.”
Photo by John Preece
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
