Hibs’ under-fire Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom admitted that he was frustrated with the first-half performance in last night’s 2-2 draw with Livingston at Easter Road.
The players were booed off the pitch at half time after going 2-0 down but the fans kept faith and continued to back them throughout the second half.
They were rewarded when Martin Boyle scored a late equaliser to move Hibs up to ninth place.
Heckingbottom said: “I’m feeling everything. Listen, it’s different. You feel different coming back from two down to drawing from two up.
“Overriding it’s frustration. Look at the differences. It shouldn’t take tactical changes and bollockings to get people running about.
“All people want to see is drive and determination. That’s all the fans want. I hope the players take belief out of that, having not been dominant to start with, just giving it away.
“They’ve had to earn it. But there was a spirit in the second half, a determination and fight. Runs, tackles, fully committed.”
When asked about the impact of Boyle return he said: I’m pleased for Boyler and the work he’s put in. When he came back to training last week, I wouldn’t have seen him being ready for this game.
“But he earned his place ahead of schedule because he was ready. He’s done great for the team, his determination over past two weeks has really helped us.
“People will have to be patient with him, he’s missed that much football. But he’ll be working as hard as possible to get into the side.”
“We started doing one-to-one things with him and in each session, he was trying to impress me and get back in.”
Hibs’ fans have been calling for the Yorkshireman’s head since the derby defeat to Hearts and despite creditable draws against Celtic and Aberdeen, the side have since thrown away leads against Hamilton and Ross County but, he insisted, he has owner Ron Gordon’s backing. He added: “We met yesterday and went out for dinner last night. It was good to spend time on our own, quite informal.
“He’s been great. Let’s not kid ourselves, football is about results. Anyone who thinks different is deluded,
“We get on great, have similar ideas, both want to be successful. We want to be up where we were last year. The club would also like to progress in cup competitions.
“But no specific targets. We have that regular contact, so it is discussed. The chairman is keen to build something sustainable, being a team who are regularly in Europe, not a yo-yo team. That’s what everyone wants.”
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.
