Hibs manager Marink Reedijk was adamant that his side’s result didn’t match the performance, but insists that things are improving despite losing all three of his opening matches.
Hibs, who haven’t won a league game at home since April are rooted to the bottom of the table with just seven points from the opening 10 matches.
Owen Elding fired the hosts ahead after just three minutes, but the lead was short lived as Jason Kerr’s own goal levelled things up a mere two minutes later before Camilo Durán’s winner just before the break.
In his post-match press conference, Reedijk said: “First, start with the sour, the result. not what I want, not what we deserve I think as well, because if you go to the performance, I think the performance we put on the pitch today was again an improvement of what we did over the last couple of weeks.
“I think they didn’t create a lot, until the moment we started to play a little more opportunistic. I think we had two or three very good chances, which need to be a goal, at least one.
“However, if you see that we come in three minutes 1-0 up, and then concede a goal, what? Two, three minutes later? I think how we put our heads up within the position we are in and how we then show ourselves, that’s what I call bravery. That’s what I call togetherness, and that’s what I want to see from my team.”
He also speaks about his squad’s willingness to pull together for one another. Joe Newell, no longer wearing the armband came into the starting XI late on with Martin Boyle dropping out the squad in the pre-match warm-ups, coupled with Grant Hanley’s substitute appearance as a striker late on. Reedijk said: “Boyley steps out last minute because he was sick and didn’t feel right to play, and then Joe comes in last minute. This is togetherness, and then I put Granty (Hanley) on in a position he never played before, I think, and he impacted the game. That’s togetherness, and this is what are the positive takeaways from the performance. That’s really important to me, that I see these steps in the right direction.
Speaking on Hanley’s cameo at striker, Reedijk said: “Because I saw the momentum of the game change in the favour of Celtic, the thing was for me, that I wanted to impact something, create a little bit of chaos. I spoke with Granny about it and he did a fantastic job in executing.
“I think we got two big chances because of that, and it could be the equaliser there, and I take my hat off to Granty today.”
Reedijk was then pushed on if Hibs would look to strengthen the striker department in January, given a centre-back played up-front, he said: “First things first, lets focus on the games at hand. January is far away and yes, we need to plan mid-term but my first concern is now getting results.”
The Dutchman was certain that things will improve at Hibs, and that the results will follow, he said: “I think if we can be Celtic’s equals, and I don’t think that’s a lie.
“Sometimes you can be blinkered as a coach, but I think if you look objectively, that was also the case today.
“We didn’t give away a lot of chances there, I believe that we’re in a good way and that points will come.”
Hibs travel to St. Mirren on Wednesday night, where it’s unclear if Martin Boyle will be available. Whilst Hibs will maintain full focus remains on Wednesday night, they’d be forgiven for having one eye on Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against rivals Hearts at Hampden.
