Hibs v Celtic, Sat 15 May, KO 12.30pm

0762 · 14-05-2021, 16:22

So we arrive at the last Scot Prem fixture of the season at ER Stadium in a match that becomes meaningless after Hibs win at Pittodrie that ensured Hibs season has ended in grand style - great success all round and the opportunity next week to add the Scottish Cup to our 3rd place Euro footie qualification. This match will also be Broony's final match for the Hoops and how ironic that he returns to his "alma mater of footie education/grounding" before Celtic came in to snatch a "future captain of Hibs for years" with an offer of lotsa money that our footie club couldn't refuse. How many more Scot footie trophies would Hibs have won with Broony in our ranks from 2007 onwards eh!!? Anyway, this is nothing more than a "bounce match" and a mini-testimonial for Broony whereby we ensure our players can play the game without too much commitment and no threat of injury. Lets try to win it though and keep that "feelgood factor bubbling away" in the lead up to the Scot Cup final. C'mon Hibs!!

GGTTH

**HerefordBull** · (This post was last modified: 15-05-2021, 16:00 by HerefordBull.)

Fighting, defensive 0.0 draw, with our second stringers against a very strong Celtic side although with nothing at stake it was a little like a bounce game.

Bit of luck combined with great games for Marciano and especially Darren McGregor saw Hibs through to a clean sheet.

Fair play to the Celtic forwards who had 3 or 4 chances to take a foul in the box, especially first half, but tried to stay on their feet and not try to win the penalty.

Farewell and thanks to Rocky.

GGTTH

0762 · (This post was last modified: 15-05-2021, 17:40 by 0762.)

FT 0-0 and this result was what I expected. JR started with eight changes to the team line up with near enough Hibs "old guard" defence of Gray, Darren Mac and Stevo (+Porty) in front of Rocky who was playing his last match at ER Stadium and had a number of vg saves. None of our strikers "up top" either and Hibs conceding a lotta territory to Celtic with JR possibly trying out some mid strategies with next Saturday's Scot Cup final in mind. Darren Mac definitely the MOTM and he "read" almost every Celtic attacking move in a sterling performance. I don't think he'll play in next week's final but it presents an option to JR in a "big match" that he must try to win and "bust a bogey" at the same time - all down to good team choice, an effective strategy and astute decision-making plus a positive motivation of the team/players to win this final. Lastly, I can't let today's ref, Golum, away after some really dreadful ref decisions that denied Hibs some threatening attacking moves. In one such incident in the second half, he halted Irvine getting in behind the Celtic defence by whistling for a Hibs FK rather than allowing an advantage to Irvine and IMO he knew exactly what he was doing by calling him back from that great attacking position - totally unacceptable!

theo_luddite · (This post was last modified: 15-05-2021, 17:28 by theo_luddite.)

Wouldn't be one of your match reports without some comments aboot the ref 0762. Here's to some better decisions for next season, but dinnae held yer breath on that one. Specsavers still sponsoring the Jock refs by any chance?

0762 · 15-05-2021, 17:42

Specsavers did indeed sponsor them for a while and rightly ditched them for a better option lol!!

hibeejim21 · (This post was last modified: 16-05-2021, 11:10 by hibeejim21.)

Thought we played rather well even though it was basically just a kick about in the sun. Gollum was fecking diabolical, to both sides to be fair....he denied us more than once from good attacking positions and I'm still no sure why Celtics free kick goal was disallowed either.

Mcgregor should go into the cup final side IMO.

ritchiebaby · 15-05-2021, 23:06

Totally agree about McGregor for the final. Hanlon or Porteous? Difficult but I'd go with Porteous as he seems to play better with McGregor. No Macey, Hanlon, Boyle or Nisbet today either and looks like sensible team management from Ross. Long may it continue.

GGTTH

hibeejim21 · 16-05-2021, 14:52

Really no sure Ritchie....My gut instinct is that Porteous could cost us,Saint J have already shown they have the measure of him.

0762 · 17-05-2021, 00:48

Likewise Porty's position concerns me as I reflect back to a previous semi-final when he lost concentration on a St Johnstone CK and allowed Kerr to have a free header to score their opening goal. Darren Mac just looks more reassured and experienced in Hibs defence TBH. On the same theme I must say Paul Hanlon has hardly played a decent game at Hampden as far back as I can remember. But his last game at Hampden v Dundee United was reasonable - v a poor team though! Does Ross stay loyal to the players who got him to the final or does he go with his "gut feeling" on who is gonna do it for Hibs on the day??? A case of choose wisely!!

GGTTH

**HerefordBull** · 17-05-2021, 08:52

Porteous although a promising good defender, has shown this season that he can be a little bit of a "bombscare" with at least a couple of times a game he switches off ..............pass to Middleton v ST J was one of his best!

OK all defenders make errors but to me Daz , provided he is fit, is my choice alongside Hanlon. He has shown in the last couple of games that he can still read the game well, can mix it with the best of them and feel he is also a more vocal defender towards the rest of the team to keep them organised.

GGTTH