'Outrageous' Hibs moment sums up woe of Falkirk loss as full Marink Reedijk buy-in needed for two reasons

Hibs players need an injection of confidence to carry out the style change manager Marink Reedijk is seeking, it’s been claimed, after the weekend’s 2-1 loss against Falkirk.

The Hibees are bottom of the Premiership thanks to a Jacob Murrell double on Saturday. It was the new manager’s first home game in charge of the club since taking over from predecessor David Gray, and things don’t get much easier when champions Celtic come to Leith on Sunday, where they have not won in the league since the spring of last season.

Former right-back Richard Foster was analysing the game for Sportscene. He reckons Thibault Klidje’s efforts to play out from near his own corner flag before Murrell’s winner summed up Hibs’ day but confidence is a bigger picture issue. Reedijk is seeking to make the team a more attack-minded outfit, but a lack of confidence will make that challenging, with time and confidence needed for a full philosophy buy-in.

Ex-Aberdeen and Rangers man Foster said: ”What Klidje’s doing, I have no idea. Outrageous. Just kick it out for a throw-in or a corner, keep it alive. And if you watch, I think it's Jason Kerr in the middle of the pitch, his reaction there, he's going straight over for Klidje, because that kind of summed Hibs up. I mean, it’s another brilliant finish, goalkeeper no chance. But it's really, really poor from Hibs' perspective.

“You see it, the decision making, that final third. It's a slash wide instead of going across the goal. When you go to Easter Road, you're going to need to weather a bit of a storm, and Falkirk done that. Hibs huffed and puffed, created a couple of chances, as we've seen. But nothing really, really clear cut. Falkirk were well, well worthy of the three points for me.

“New manager in, it is going to take a bit of time. But it is worrying because usually you need players on side to buy into any new philosophy that you're trying to preach. At the moment, the Hibs players just look bereft of any confidence. Falkirk were fantastic in the first half. The way they pressed, the energy, you know, John McGlynn tactically is very, very good. They just looked energetic.

Owen Elding’s effort brought Hibs within a goal of Falkirk and Jamie McGrath almost got them level late in the second half. There was debate over Elding’s goal though after a VAR check for a handball by the Irish striker and Foster reckons Hibs are fortunate to have seen the goal stand. Next up for Reedijk and his team is a clash with champions Celtic.

He added: “I don't think the goal should have stood. I think it hits him low enough down the arm. I mean, I think he should actually be ready for the ball to come in anyway. You should expect Martin Boyle to miss it and be ready to go and head the ball in. It should not have stood.”