Good Start Imperative For Hibees

The new Scottish season is almost upon us with Hibs opening Championship fixture against Livingston the highlight of Saturday’s second tier matches.

Whilst Alan Stubbs and his men have received many plaudits for their performance at Ibrox in midweek, the nitty gritty starts this weekend and it’s imperative the Hibees kick off their campaign with a victory.

Such was the deflated mood around Easter Road following relegation from the top flight, it’s unsurprising to see season ticket sales slump despite the positive messages coming from the CEO, players and management.

Wednesday was certainly a breath of fresh air in terms of performance levels which have been notoriously poor under previous managers Pat Fenlon and Terry Butcher but the only way to encourage those fans still angry or feeling apathy towards the club to return is to provide a consistent level of performance and certainly displays which don’t reek of an antiquarian form of hoofball.

Most supporters were desperate for a statement of intent by the board and hoped to see at least one ‘big name’ signing arrive, and whilst the capture of Scott Allan looks a shrewd piece of business, the midfielder still has to prove his undoubted potential.

The Championship will be the most hotly contested league within the SPFL structure this season with Rangers, Hearts and Hibs the favourites to slug it out for the title but the likes of Falkirk, who’ve made some good signings and Saturday’s opponents, wily campaigners at this level, will be hoping to make the play off positions themselves come the end of April.

The Hibs squad certainly have a point to prove with the majority of Saturday’s likely starting line up involved in the catastrophe which was relegation and whilst Terry Butcher must also be held accountable, the players themselves have to up the standard from which they set so low last season.

Certainly they seem to have taken to Stubbs management and playing ethos quickly and instead of the turgid football on show during the seven disconsolate Butcher months, they seem comfortable knocking the ball around from back to front and actually playing through, rather than over the top, of midfield.

There is still the argument from some regarding the end product on show following the pre season matches with many complaints that whilst this new look Hibs side look good, they lack a cutting edge up front.

However if Wednesday night’s display is to be set as the benchmark for performance levels it’s well worth noting that, poor finishing apart, Hibs could have scored at least four against Rangers with new striker Farid El-Alagui perhaps lacking just a little match sharpness with his two missed opportunities.

Saturday brings the first chance for those who haven’t seen much of Hibs since the Hamilton disaster to witness first hand the progress made by Stubbs and the backroom staff and it’s vital Hibs start producing the goods in front of their home support.

Recent seasons have seen visiting outfits win far too easily at Easter Road and it’s an issue CEO Leeann Dempster wants addressed as any side hopeful of putting together a strong title challenge has to build it’s success round winning games when not playing particularly well, especially on their own turf.

So, with renewed optimism, hopefully a decent crowd will turn up for the Livingston clash, make some noise and back the players to victory which, in a league likely to be decided by the smallest of margins, could be crucial come the season end.

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