Much of the chat ahead of this scrappy, low-quality 1-1 draw at Tannadice centred around Hibs’ lack of statement wins this season.
After another 90 minutes that failed to light the touchpaper on a largely underwhelming campaign from them so far – and resulted in a seventh draw in 18 league outings – that’s going to be even more of an issue ahead of Saturday’s Edinburgh derby at Easter Road.
Things aren’t exactly going badly at the old Cabbage and Ribs. They’re fifth in the table, ahead of Aberdeen’s visit to Celtic on Sunday afternoon at least. And looking at budgets and all the rest of it, fifth is probably where they ought to be. They’ve also got a steady pair of hands at the helm in head coach David Gray.
It’s just that their thunderous charge to third spot in the standings last term left you feeling they had created a platform to build from – and that they haven’t really taken advantage.
The break-up with Bill Foley and his Black Knight group in November just added to the suspicion that the firm sense of direction that existed not so long ago is going through a little bit of a wobble.
All is not lost, of course. The teams immediately above Gray’s men are still within touching distance. A home win over Hearts at the weekend would see them step into the new year with renewed vigour.
Luca Stephenson of Dundee United (left) celebrates scoring the opening goal against Hibs
Martin Boyle grabs the equaliser at Tannadice as Hibs left with a share of the spoils
It goes without saying that putting a massive dent in the title aspirations of their city rivals would deliver lashings of festive cheer too.
Achieving that goal, though, is going to require considerably more quality in the final third of the pitch than was shown on Tayside on Saturday. When captain Martin Boyle cancelled out Luca Stephenson’s opener with seven minutes of the first 45 to go, it felt like the stage was set for a much-needed victory for Hibs.
When a header from debutant Zach Mitchell came off the crossbar shortly afterwards, it felt the pendulum had definitely swung in favour of Gray’s men. They’d been the better side in the opening period. They’d enjoyed most of the ball, had more attempts on goal, even if few of them had been on target.
And that’s why the second half was so disappointing. They were rubbish in the second half, if we’re being brutally frank. Created very little.
Thibault Klidje, a replacement for Boyle, got in behind the United rearguard with 16 minutes left and saw his clipped effort saved by keeper Dave Richards before being booted clear by Sam Cleall-Harding.
Fellow substitute Dylan Levitt also squandered a fine opportunity near the death, slashing the ball embarrassingly wide after moving onto it on the edge of the box.
Hibs’ general play didn’t deserve a winning goal, though. They lost their way – and their composure – as the game went on. They need to be more clinical in key areas than this.
Klidje is reaching a critical stage in his Hibs’ career. He cost £1million from Swiss side Luzern. He’s the club’s record signing. Five starts in the Premiership, delivering two goals and one assist, is nowhere close to the kind of return expected.
He gets away with it because he’s at Hibs. If he was at Rangers or Celtic, or maybe even Hearts, he’d be getting dragged over the coals. At 24 years of age, with that transfer fee hanging round his neck, he should be taking Scotland by storm.
Boyle and Hibs have had an indifferent season but with Hearts up next, they could finally grab a statement win to ignite their season
Right now, he can barely even get into the team.
Kieron Bowie needs to get into gear too. Three goals in his last 15 games doesn’t get the dishes washed for a bloke who has a place in Scotland’s World Cup squad to battle for.
Bowie has all the attributes required to be a real talent at a higher level, but he needs to kick on. He needs consistency – and displays like the one turned in at Tannadice are not going to convince national coach Steve Clarke that he has to be on the plane to North America next summer.
Boyle, along with Jack Iredale, looks odds-on to be at the Greatest Show on Earth with Australia as well. In fairness, he’s scored three in his last four.
For so many of the playing staff at Hibs, there is so much still to play for this season. Grant Hanley is in prime position to go to the World Cup with Scotland. Junior Hoilett was called back into the Canada squad earlier in the year.
Rocky Bushiri, currently away at the African Cup of Nations, might get there with DR Congo if they survive allegations of fielding ineligible players in the qualifiers. Jamie McGrath is on the radar for the Republic of Ireland ahead of their March play-off with the Czech Republic as well.
Even keeper Raphael Sallinger has spoken of his ambition of winning a call-up for Austria.
It’s all there for these guys. The world can be their oyster. That’s surely incentive enough to grasp the thistle and spark their season properly into life.
