Hibs face Falkirk this weekend aiming to bounce back from last weekend’s loss in the Edinburgh Derby with a fixture against a side hoping to be in the play off mix at the end of the season, and defeat is unthinkable even at this early stage of the campaign.
Alan Stubbs men are sure to know the importance of winning their home matches in a division where every point could be crucial but the psychological edge of losing, and falling 6 points behind their city rivals so early, could be a blow from which they find it difficult to recover.
Hibees head into the match missing two ever presents in Lewis Stevenson and Scott Robertson and Hibs will be looking to Scott Allan, the summer’s marquee signing thus far, to fill Robertson’s boots and produce a display akin to those which earnt him a move south after a handful of games at Dundee United.
The 22 year old has a good pedigree and should be able to dominate the Scottish Championship, providing his attitude and application are in order.
Callum Booth will likely make a long awaited first team return in Stevenson’s absence and having spent last season on loan at Raith Rovers, should know the standard he requires to set.
Sam Stanton, another youngster who’s started all three competitive matches so far this campaign needs to start producing after disappointing in his appearances so far which could see on loan Everton winger Matthew Kennedy start in his place.
Kennedy, like Allan, has yet to start a match since signing on the eve of the Championsip campaign but this was another highly rated youngster when plying his trade at Kilmarnock who should be more than good enough for the second tier.
Falkirk are no mugs however and will be travelling to the capital with a bit of confidence after a midweek ‘derby’ victory over Dunfermline in the Petrofac Cup.
Having signed Jamie McDonald and Tom Taiwo from either Edinburgh side during the close season they have a mixture of youth and experience within their ranks and are managed by the experienced Peter Houston.
A lot of the optimism and hope for the club following Stubbs arrival dissipated following yet another Derby loss, so Hibs need to make sure they take no less than maximum points against a side considered to be ‘the best of the rest’ outside the Capital outfits and Rangers.
Whilst a loss or draw clearly doesn’t signify a lost cause when it comes to lifting the title, to win it you need to gather a momentum and the only way to do that is by winning football matches.
Hibs immediate run sees them play four teams in the Championship, with a cup tie against Dumbarton thrown in as well, where taking full points will see them in a healthy position prior to facing Rangers at the end of September.
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