It is likely that there will be a larger ‘Well support than normally appears for February mid-week games but we all know how the team often reacts to that! We have taken just one point from the last eighteen in the league – relegation form – but our performances have merited more. Hibs have been playing exceptionally well recently but their cloak of invincibility was shattered on Saturday with a tanking at Ibrox. Even though they were clear second favourites going into that game, their confidence will have taken a dent. If we can score early in the game against them, their heads could go down.
As for our performance on Saturday, it was strangely inevitable that after the high of the cup semi final we’d be back to shaking our heads wondering how we contrived to lose. The chances were there but we couldn’t take them. Terry now has an interesting decision to make – does he stick with the team that played well and lost or does he bring in fresh faces? For once we have several options to play with – Fitzpatrick could come in on the left for Stepover, Clarkson can offer something different to Hamilton and Foran, after being dropped, will no doubt be fired up to return in any position.
However, along with improving in front of goal, the defence needs to tighten up. Our good run coincided with a very solid back line. Now goals, preventable goals, are being lost. Riordan and O’Conner are scoring for fun (aided by several other Hibs players) and we will have to perform to a very high standard if we are to win.