The Dutchman watched over his third game in charge of Hibs as they lost versus Celtic.
Hibs manager Marink Reedijk felt his side deserved at least a point in a 2-1 defeat to Celtic that was defined by the high winds sweeping the country.
However, the match might be remembered longer for Scotland stalwart Grant Hanley being sent on as an emergency centre-forward by Reedijk as the home side sought an equaliser, and possibly more, with time running out. The rugged national team defender played the last 10 or so minutes up front after replacing Miguel Chaiwa. Hibs were still trailing by a goal, after Camilo Duran had put the visitors ahead shortly before half time.
The sides traded goals in the opening five minutes as the conditions proved immediately challenging. Reedijk had no regrets about his eyebrow-raising personnel decision involving Hanley, who hadn’t featured at all under the Dutchman until coming on in attack to try to rescue the situation.
Who played up front for Hibs vs Celtic?
“I put Granty on in a position he hasn’t played before, I think, and he impacted the game,” said Reedijk. “That is togetherness.
“I saw the momentum of the game changing in favour of Celtic,” he explained. “I wanted to impact something. I wanted to create a little bit of chaos. I spoke with Granty about it and he did a fantastic job in executing it. I think we got two good chances because of him. And that could have been the equaliser. I take my hat off to Granty today.”
He added that turning to the defender was simply a matter of expedience. There were no other strikers left on the bench. “It was because we needed to do something,” he said. “Celtic were trying to put the game to bed. We had to try to avoid this.”
The decision seemed to underline Hibs’ limited options up front, although Elding had earlier scored his second goal in successive outings. Reedijk stressed that with games coming thick and fast, he could not afford to think about transfer market targets in January yet. He stressed his players had done him proud and that he was “100 per cent” convinced that the first points under him were imminent following three successive defeats in his first games in charge.
“They (Celtic) didn’t create a lot until the moment we tried to be a bit more opportunistic,” he said. “We had two or three very good chances which needed to be a goal. At least one goal. However, if you score in three minutes and concede a goal two minutes later, to see how we then held our heads up high and showed the best of ourselves considering the position we are in, that is what I call bravery and togetherness. And that is what I want to see from my team.”
Reedijk was especially admiring of these qualities considering Martin Boyle had called off sick before the warm-up and was replaced by Joe Newell in the starting XI. Boyle was back home long before the match finished. His manager didn't know if he would be available for the midweek league game against St Mirren and then, four days afterwards, the League Cup semi-final clash against Hearts at Hampden.
“Boyle stepped out at the last minute because he was sick and didn’t feel right to play,” he said. “We will have to see (when he will be back). He went home before kick-off I believe. First let him sleep and take some time and we will decide and see how it is tomorrow.”