The manager of Hibs feels that the team’s performance against Celtic on Saturday might serve as a model for important games.
After establishing a benchmark in Saturday’s draw with Celtic, Nick Montgomery has tasked his Hibs players to continue pushing the envelope.
The Easter Road team received harsh criticism after losing 4-0 at Rangers the previous week, but they demonstrated discipline and a desire to shut out the champions and earn a point on home ground this past Saturday. With tonight’s visit from Ross County and Saturday’s Viaplay Cup semifinal matchup against Aberdeen, new manager Montgomery maintains that confidence is essential in the big moments.
“Your identity can be tested when you play against better teams,” he continued. We played pretty well and I felt like we held our ground over the weekend. We have to defend with tenacity because they are a superior team. The team’s progress and development are what matter. You will experience ups and downs, but the most important thing is to make sure that you follow your plan and get back up as quickly as you can after a setback. We established that against Celtic, and it’s another base upon which we can advance.
It’s important that we keep pushing the envelope and raising the bar for one another every day. You can’t compete if you think you can’t, but I think you can if you think you can.
“I anticipate the same mindset and zeal for every game, regardless of the opponent. The players have provided me with it every game, so I demand it of them. The Rangers game was the only one where I felt let down because we let up goals that we never should have given up.
However, that is football. It is imperative that you put on your Hibs shirt with pride and give it your all each and every time you take the field. Because it’s so different from what they’re used to, even the senior boys are still picking things up and adjusting.
David Marshall, the 38-year-old goalkeeper in that group, has received criticism from the Hibs fan base on a few occasions this season, but never more so than following the team’s 4-0 drubbing at Ibrox.
But after shutting out Celtic with a strong showing, the former Scotland number one responded, and Montgomery declared, “I think David is a fantastic goalkeeper; you only have to look at his career.”
He has a really calming effect on the group. He’s crucial to the way we play because he doesn’t crack under duress and doesn’t pay attention to outside noise.
But what’s really surprised me is that, despite his advanced age, he’s willing to modify his style of play to suit any situation. He has a tremendous impact on the team, and his performances have improved greatly since I joined.
“I believed that over the weekend, he maintained his composure when I needed it. He’s very proud of himself. Many players have contracts expiring in the summer. Davie has had an incredible career, and at the end of the season, we will have those conversations.”
On the opposite end of the age range, Jair Tavares made his second start under Montgomery against Celtic after being sidelined by Lee Johnson. In August, the 22-year-old winger appeared to be headed somewhere.
Nevertheless, the new manager stated: “Jair had been out in the cold for 14 months when I came in. I will be making a late call on Christian Doidge’s fitness this evening.”
“If people were aware of his background and the events that transpired, they would know that he went through a really difficult time in his career, but he never lost confidence in himself. It was like gaining a new player for me because he was so self-disciplined and gave me everything on the weekends.
Meanwhile Jordan Obita has revealed he models himself on Liverpool wing king Trent Alexander-Arnold – even though he’s still chasing his first assist of the season. The big-engined left-back almost ended that wait at the weekend when his wicked delivery teed up Martin Boyle for Hibs’ best chance against Celtic only for Boyle to fire over.
Obita – who has one goal to his name since moving north from Wycombe in the summer – said: “At the time I thought, how has he missed? But it was quite difficult, I put a lot of pace on the ball.
“I want to get into that position more often and get balls in the box as much as I can. A lot of the assists in my game have been from really wide crosses and I find in this league most teams are quite high so if I can get it in behind them I know we have the quality up front to put the ball in the box.
“I’m a Liverpool fan so I watch them all the time. I probably look at Trent, he is a great example because his deliveries are unbelievable and I do find if you put the ball in the right area, the chance of scoring is really high.”
The full-backs are under more pressure because of Montgomery’s front-foot approach, as Obita put it: “It is really intense.” It’s challenging because we have to keep crosses out of the box, concentrate on staying really narrow, move forward, then move back.
But on Saturday, we proved to be capable of defeating the league’s top squad. We can use that against anybody if we can use it against them.
“We are aware that our start in the league wasn’t the best. With any luck, we can finally truly get going and realize our full potential.
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