[0762]

IMO this is a 'must win' home match to hold the top spot in the Championship and I reckon many Hibs fans attending this festive fixture will be wondering what Hibs performance is gonna unfold v another team that will try to 'park the bus' and frustrate Hibs at every opportunity and then hopefully 'nick a match result' in the last quarter. IMO we need to be more direct and incisive in our attacking mid area and stop being predictable in the way we are setting up. Also we need our strikers to convert the scoring opps that will certainly arise in this game - please stop scorning the ones that are 2-3 metres from the opposition goal line!!!!
Lennon's starting line up will be of particular interest as injuries have affected his team choice in recent weeks. I hope he fields a positive, free-flowing line up for a change but I'm not 'holding my breath' in great anticipation. I hope his team resembles this one:-

Laidlaw
Magregor Fontaine Hanlon
Gray Stevo
Shinnie Commons Keatings/McGeouch
Holt/Graham Cummings

I'm unsure re Graham or Holt starting this game but would prob opt for Graham because he scored a cracking goal v the Sons in our last home match compared with Holt who has not impressed either and does not score enough goals from good positions. Keatings or McGeouch's presence is based on their injury status. In the case of Keatings, he was primed for a full recovery in Hibs recent youth dev match v Dundee but became a victim of an awful tackle - I'm hoping this current injury is superficial and he's 'ready to go' but I don't know how good or bad it is. We could do with some good news on that front for a change!!  Here's hoping for a win and a decent performance to set us up for the new year fixture period. C'mon Hibs!

GGTTH

[HerefordBull]

Not holding my breath over this one 0762..........rather feel we may see the same style of play frustrating the crowd and with so many ex jambos around the Raith team to inspire them feel they will look to pinch a goal from a set piece and try to give us some festive misery. Hope I'm wrong and we gub them by a few goals and keep up the pressure on DU.

GGTTH

[hfcbounce]

TBO honest we all realise no team is going to come to Easter Rd and try and play football no team wants to come and get spanked 3 - 4 - 5 -0.

So they all come park the bus and frustrate everyone to bits with 10 players behind the ball. I had a argument with my son over this he wants us to destroy team with attractive football I feel as long as we score one more goal than the other team and win does me.

The bottom line for me is HFC must get out the championship this year the fans have turned out in great numbers we will more than likely go past the 11,500 season ticket by Xmas

I might be wrong with this outlook but TBO points make prizes.

GGTTH

[0762]

Interesting news today that United's manager, McKinnon, is trying to initiate a Commons style emergency loan move for Hearts' striker, Connor Sammon! So they clearly have some injury probs as well which is a piece of good news from our point of view. He knows his team has to consistently score goals to have any chance of winning the Championship! Likewise, we know that is a necessity at a time when we should realistically be at least 15 pts ahead of the Tangerines. However, we are not in that 'comfort zone' and a lotta work still has to be done in order to remain in pole position.

[HerefordBull]

Like many of these games we see at Easter Road an early goal for us is so important. Settles the team and the crowd down and forces opponents to change formation and come out to try and get back in the game. In theory this should give us more space to play in the final third........fingers crossed

However teams such as Celtic and Rangers face this same problem nearly every week and we have to learn to deal with it as they do.

GGTTH

[hibeejim21]

3 points for Xmas please Santa.

---

Utd trying to sign that donkey sammon? He's pish.

Utd have relatively easy games ahead though.

[0762]

Saint Mirren may pose a prob for them in their next match Jim if they do indeed 'have a goal scoring prob' and it looks like stormy, wintry conditions are gonna prevail on Saturday.

[ritchiebaby]

In my letter to Santa, I've asked for 3 points and 3 goals for Hibs and 1 point and 1 goal for United. Merry Christmas everyone!

[hibeejim21]

A merry Xmas to all my friends on here. Hope you have a very happy festive period.

[0762]

Aye! All the best for the festive season!! Have a good one!