Hibs’ Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom was frustrated by the lack of a ruthless streak in the final third in the wake of yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Hamilton Academical.
Fans are becoming equally frustrated at the results and performances of the team who have not won in the league since the opening day and have dropped points from winning positions in the last four games.
After the final whistle, Heckingbottom who was forced to watch the game from the stand after being given a three match ban following his outburst during the draw with Celtic spoke to Hibernian TV: “ It was the same old story. It was a fantastic goal from Stevie (Mallan) and we’ve seen that before. We had some moments of good play and opened them up several times in the first half. We should have had more goals. At the other end, I can’t remember Chris Maxwell having a save to make, yet we’ve not come away with three points. That’s the frustrating bit.
“Last time out, against Aberdeen, they had two efforts in the whole game and scored from one courtesy of a corner. This week it was a penalty decision from the referee. I’m not complaining about that because what we need to ensure is that stuff like that is irrelevant because we’re taking our chances at the other end. We have to focus on what we can do to win the game. The overriding frustration is that we’re seeing most of what we want to see, but not the end product. We’re not seeing the three points, which the players in there deserved.
“There has to be belief. We’re creating good chances and we should be scoring more goals than we are. I still believe we can create more chances. We can get more bodies in the box as well. We got more bodies in the box in the first half than we did in the second. We brought on attacking players but they have to come on with the intent of getting into the box. They could be the one who gets the glory and the three points for us.”
When asked about the prospect of players back from injury in the coming week he replied: “It’s still slow. Vykintas (Slivka) is still feeling it a bit. Martin, I had out for some one on one coaching on Friday. He’s progressing to getting back on grass, though he’s some way from featuring. The quicker we can get him back on the grass the better. He’ll get fitter quicker, he’ll be working with the boys, it’ll be good for him and good for us to have him back. He’s probably the closest. Darren’s (McGregor) still progressing slowly and David’s (Gray) still in the gym just now.
“ They (they players) have to nail down that shirt and stay in the team. While there are still good performers and good players there who are coming off frustrated having not won the game, we have to find a winning team. So we might change the team around again. The one thing I want to see is more drive and desire from people to get in the box. Be the one to score the goal. We move the ball around well but we need that killer instinct from everyone, not just the strikers.”
Hibs have two home games against Ross County then Livingston and anything less than maximum points will pile pressure on the board and the management staff from an already disgruntled support.
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.
