Hibernian’s performance against Hearts, despite ending in defeat, has been lauded for the character shown after going down to nine men.
The match, part of a weekend of action in the Scottish Premiership that saw wins for Hearts and Celtic and a slip for Rangers, has been described as ‘Hibs’ shooting themselves in the foot’. It ruined what was promising to be a fantastic spectacle.
Manager’s Reaction to Hibs’ Performance
Hibs head coach David Gray told Sky Sports that he couldn’t ask for any more from his players. This was especially considering they were down to nine men.
Gray cited decision-making as the key factor. He noted a mistake by the goalkeeper and a second mistake that led to a yellow card.
He added: “Full credit to the players that remained on the pitch, they defended their box incredibly. Bodies on the line, defending crosses. At the moment the players that remained on the pitch didn’t deserve it [to lose] after what they put into the game.”
Hearts Delighted with the Win
Hearts manager Derek McInnes told BBC Sportsound that Sabah Kerjota was perfect for the game. This was because Hearts were expected to have a lot more of the ball. He is someone who has guile, creativity, and confidence in the final third.
McInnes also spoke about Blair Spittal playing as an auxiliary right-back. He said: “You’re just trying everything to try and make this go your way. It took a bit longer than we thought.”
About Spittal’s goal, McInnes said: “It’s all about can someone come up with the big moment? Blair Spittal scores goals like that every day in training. He’s got such good quality. A lot of people could snatch at it. He keeps his knee over the ball, stays calm, and it could be such an important goal.”
Impact on the League Table
McInnes acknowledged the advantage gained over Rangers, saying, “It’s an advantage for Celtic and ourselves because we’ve won our games this weekend and Rangers didn’t but there’s another round of fixtures coming up so it can quickly change. Nothing gets decided today.”
He further added that winning the first game after the split can give a team confidence and impetus. Hearts are unbeaten at home all season.
McInnes concluded: “It’s one win ticked off, it’s one round of fixtures, it counts for nothing if we can’t go and back it up now.”
Looking Ahead
The result is viewed as a significant step for Motherwell towards securing fourth place.
While Hearts will be relieved with their win, some observers noted that they only scored once Hibs had two players sent off. Despite securing the three points and being considered favourites, they are not seen as invincible.
Fans can catch highlights from the day’s games on BBC Scotland.