Marink Reedijk was in the dugout for his first home game as Hibs manager.
Marink Reedijk says Hibs must channel the sickening feeling of defeat positively after Hibs hit bottom of the Premiership with a 2-1 defeat to Falkirk.
Jacob Murrell scored twice for John McGlynn’s team during a frenetic first 45 minutes that included some questionable defending by the home team. Owen Elding halved the deficit before teams headed for the changing rooms and VAR denied Hibs a penalty shortly after second half proceedings kicked off. It’s now seven consecutive top-flight defeats at Easter Road for Hibs and new boss Reedijk says the club must look forward rather than at league position.
He explained: “You just need to focus on the next match. This is what you can control. We have to keep on focussing on the football things we need to do, the mental things we need to do, and our mindset needs to be in the way that we keep on doing what we're doing. This result, I have a sick feeling in my stomach, but I saw a better team and I see progress. So, overall, I want to see with the sick feeling in my stomach, that it’s used in a positive way towards the next match, because it doesn't make any sense to look at it in a negative way. We need to look forward and not backwards."
What happened during Hibs vs Falkirk?
The Dutchman was making his home managerial bow at Easter Road but Murrell’s early opener compounded apparent groans following a start riddled with errors. Hibs showed promise in attack but were vulnerable in defence, with elements of their build-up play sparking frustrations from home fans, minus Block Seven. The ultras group were banned by the club pre-match for three games following incidents at the recent away game with Dundee United.
Murrell’s second of the day sparked more concern before Elding’s bundled goal before the break provided the hosts some much-needed hope. VAR intervened after half-time to deny Hibs a penalty, Lewis Neilson judged to have fouled attacker Thibault Klidje outside the box, referee Nick Walsh having initially awarded a spot-kick.
Both goalkeepers were called into action, Falkirk’s Scott Bain in particular impressing with a smart low stop to deny Jamie McGrath a certain leveller. Boos rang out from the home fans at full-time with Kilmarnock’s win over Motherwell putting Hibs 12th but the manager says there are signs of what he wants from his side
Reedijk added: “I think if we do it like we played, and avoid these mistakes and make more of our chances, because I heard we had 20 shots, of which there are seven on goal, then there will be more shots on goal eventually. And also, eventually, there will be no goals against. So that gives us at least something that we are creating. If we then don't make the individual mistakes, then we also don't concede a lot."
Counterpart McGlynn meanwhile was left thrilled with his side’s ability to grind out the match. Late goals have hurt his team against St Johnstone and Dundee in recent games but they were able to see off more second half hurt.
He said: “As a whole club we are delighted. We’ve had a few sore ones recently with losing late goals and we were potentially in that situation today. I’m glad we got ourselves in front and we held out. I’m so proud of the players. It’s a huge three points for us.”