Hibs’ teenage defender Ryan Porteous insists that Hibs will travel to Norway next week with a positive attitude despite failing to score in last night’s 0-0 draw at Easter Road.
Hibs were the better team throughout and but for the goalkeeping of Molde skipper Andreas Linde, they could have won comfortably.
At the other end Porteous and fellow defenders Efe Ambrose and Paul Hanlon dealt with everything that the Norwegians threw at them, keeping their second successive clean sheet.
Porteous played in the middle of a three man defence, replacing Darren McGregor who has fluid on his knee and many fans voted him their man of the match.
After the game, the highly rated youngster told Cliff Pike of Hibernian TV: “some of the guys heads were down in the dressing room but the gaffer (Neil Lennon) said ‘get the heads up because you performed really well.
“We could and possibly should have won the game but that’s football. we limited them to very little chances and I don’t think Roscoe (Ross Laidlaw) had much to do other than with the ball at his feet.
“We dealt with their set plays really well but ultimately we would have liked to get the goal and take the lead over there but we have stopped them getting an away goal and that’s an advantage for us.
“We know the capabilities that our forwards have and now that we have Emerson (Hyndman) in that only adds to the quality.
“If we can get him for then maybe he can play a part in the game like he did today. You saw flashes of him when he played Oli (Shaw) through and he had a great chance at the end.
“With Dave’s (Gray) header, I was away celebrating and so was he but their keeper made a great save so credit to him.
“We were putting great balls into the box and Flo (Kamberi) was in a great position as well but the ball just didn’t fall to him and they were putting bodies on the line as well so it just wasn’t our night.
“We will take a positive attitude over there and we have something to pay for.
“It makes my job easier playing alongside two model pros like Efe (Ambrose) and Paul (Hanlon).
“Playing against Scottish opposition is one thing but getting that experience against a top level European side is only going be good for your development. Now that I am trying to push on and get into the first team that can only help.
“I’ve always said that I just want to be ready for when the gaffer needs me and over the last couple of games I have showed that I am capable.
“We now have to focus on the St Johnstone game on Sunday and that will be a tough one over there.”
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.
