Hibs setting their sights on a derby win

DAVID Gray’s Hibs side seems to have already ‘finished up for the season,’ the recent fine away win over Celtic having been followed by one victory, two mind-numbing 0-0 draws and an embarrassing defeat—with no goals scored in three of those four matches.

Yes, it’s been a long season for Hibernian’s fairly small squad—those European heroics seem so long ago now—but that’s no excuse for the side’s mostly insipid recent displays. Hibs fans are praying that David Gray’s men are keeping something special in reserve for the must-win Edinburgh derby against valiant title challengers, Hearts—the first post-split fixture. The Hibs board should underestimate the importance of the outcome of that derby match at their peril.

Realistically, Hibs could still finish fourth and guarantee a European slot, particularly as Motherwell seem to be trying to outdo the Easter Road side in half-hearted lame performances of late. Were Hibs to finish fifth, they’ll only get into Europe if Celtic win the Scottish Cup—and given their own woes this term, that’s not a scenario the Hibees should bank on.

Speaking of banks, Hibs recently unveiled some very poor financial results, a deficit near identical to the sum of cash that the club’s narrow failure to reach league phase European football this term saw them miss out on.

Back in March, the Hibees battered dreadful Livingston at Easter Road, but only got a 0-0 draw. A week later, Fir Park was the destination, where another 0-0 stalemate was played out, the Cabbage setting out their stall to frustrate Well’s passing game and doing so quite well —for all the good that did.

After the tedious international break, the Hibees got back to winning ways by thrashing Neil McCann’s Kilmarnock 3-0 at Easter Road, with goals from Owen Elding (above), Felix Passlack and Ante Šuto. That fine win was followed by a cringeworthy 2-0 away defeat to struggling Aberdeen, in which Grant Hanley was sent-off early on for the visitors and ex-Hibee Kevin Nisbet bagged both goals for the Dons.

So, out of a possible 12 points from the last four matches, Hibernian picked up just five. As they currently sit just three points behind Motherwell who are in fourth place, that’s a real opportunity missed by Gray and his players to cement European qualification.

Next up, Hibs have a free week due to Scottish Cup semi-final weekend and the absolute ‘beamer’ of once again being absent from it. Then comes that epic Edinburgh-derby showdown against Hearts at Easter Road.

Will Gray bring back the fight and the magic as the green jerseys look to help derail their city neighbours’ title push? Or will the Hibs faithful be leaving Easter Road after that match with Jambo victory songs ringing in their ears and with the Hibs board dreading plummeting season ticket sales and resulting catastrophic financial losses?

Either way, this is one season, at long last, where the top six actually means something for a change. Many Hibs fans currently joke that banter-wise an Albert Kidd figure is needed to save Hibernian’s season. The truth is, on Sunday April 26, the Hibees have the chance to be be Albert Kidd themselves, this time. Nothing but a victory will suffice.