Midfielder John McGinn believes that Hibs should have won yesterday’s game against Motherwell by more than the one goal after once again dominating for long periods.
Martin Boyle scored in the 27th minute after latching onto a pass from Simon Murray then the Hibs defence held firm to keep a clean sheet and secure all three points.
McGinn however was frustrated that a ‘goal’ by Murray was wrongly disallowed for offside and he thinks that the floodgates would have opened had the effort stood.
The Scotland international also suggests that he will soon be joined in the squad by team-mate Paul Hanlon who has been ‘brilliant’ at the back all season, a fact that will not have gone unnoticed by Gordon Strachan who was at Easter Road on Tuesday to witness Hibs’ derby victory over Hearts.
After the game McGinn said: ” It was a tough game. In the first half we were by far the better team. Myself, Dylan (McGeouch) and Marv (Bartley) controlled the midfield then in the second half against the wind it was pretty wild and it turned into a battle.
“All credit to us though. Last season or in previous seasons we might not have won the game. We had to battle hard and we did that in the end.
“If there is any bugbear in the game it is that we should have won by more goals but I feel as though Simon’s (Murray) was onside. I’ve watched it back and he looked on line. It’s frustrating. Had we scored that we could have gone on to win three or four nil.
“When you come and play here, they have strikers who work hard and they have been doing brilliant all season. At the back, Paul Hanlon is one of the best defenders in the country. He has been brilliant for a long time and it’s time he was recognised for that.
“He may not be the biggest size wise but he makes up for it with his brain and his speed and he is miles ahead of everyone on the pitch and just reads everything well. Hopefully him and Efe can keep up their form and the clean sheets.
“The Scotland manager (Malky Mackay) was there the other night against Hearts and there is no way that he would have left Easter Road not seeing what Paul can do. It’s just a case of when and not if now.”
Hibs travel to on-form Kilmarnock on Tuesday night for the game postponed due to last weekend’s Betfred League Cup semi-final. Killie under new manager Steve Clarke have drawn at both Ibrox and Celtic Park in the last week and will provide a big test for Neil Lennon’s men.
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.
