Hibs face Hamilton in the first leg of the Premiership play-off this Wednesday as they seek to preserve their top flight status but will the under achieving squad finally find some form in order to overcome the Championship runners up? It’s the million dollar question with supporters seemingly split between ill judged optimism or pessimism.
Terry Butcher has watched, apparently helplessly, from the touch line as his side has failed test after test since becoming sucked into the relegation fight despite sitting in sixth spot for what felt like an eternity.
Hibs seem to be good at all the wrong things and can’t buy a goal for love nor money at the present time.
Despite looking more threatening than previous matches, the last Premiership encounter of the season against Kilmarnock saw them defeated 1-0 courtesy of a Kris Boyd strike however Killie keeper Craig Samson pulled off a couple of decent stops, there were two goalmouth melee’s, Michael Nelson had a penalty claim denied and Liam Craig saw his thunderous effort hit the underside of the bar only to be cleared.
Simply, the Hibees can’t score so how can they look to overcome their less prestigious rivals?
The players work hard enough, that’s certainly not a complaint but they have to work at putting a better final ball into the box.
Floated thirty yard diagonals from either side are food and drink to any seasoned centre half and if you’re up against the ineffective James Collins or 5’7′ Paul Heffernan then your job just got even easier.
The past ten league matches have saw Hibs accrue the grand sum of three goals – 1 against Partick (twice) and Hearts. It’s an astonishing statistic.
Hamilton on the other hand will head into the two legged affair full of confidence after disposing of Falkirk at the weekend and finishing their league campaign with a rather unbelievable 10-2 victory over Morton.
However, Hibs need to remember it’s not Celtic they’re playing and the Accies squad, certainly on paper, should be one which even now, at its lowest ebb, this club should be capable of beating over two matches.
There may be uncomfortable times on Wednesday as the players get used to the 3G surface at New Douglas Park but there can be no excuse for them failing to turn up again.
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