HIBS cannot be accused of having taken it easy during this pre-season campaign, and Wigan Athletic last night made it seven defeats out of eight pre-season games for Mixu Paatelainen's clearly discouraged team. Amr Zaki's strike after 68 minutes proved decisive, with Hibs again looking toothless in attack.
A pair of competitive matches against strong opposition from Sweden got this mini-season under way for Hibs, and a pair of fixtures against Premiership opposition has rounded off a difficult few weeks. In between times was fitted a meeting with Barce
lona, as well as little-to-gain matches at Raith Rovers, Cowdenbeath and Clyde. It won't be a formula that will be repeated next pre-season, that much seems certain. Paatelainen will simply hope he gets the chance to devise a different programme next summer.
His side are showing signs of improvement but few can claim Hibs are in fine fettle as they prepare to welcome the new league season. The prospect of a journey to Kilmarnock this weekend will not lift spirits although Paatelainen continued his efforts to add more quality to the ranks last night. A French trialist striker was introduced at half-time, and former Gretna player Fabian Yantorno was given another chance to impress after the interval. Neither did much to state their case, with time now at a premium for Paatelainen.
Nevertheless, the manager sounded confident. "I thought we looked sharp, and that tells me we are ready for the new season," he said. "I am just disappointed to have lost again."
Hibs have now scored only twice this summer, but Paatelainen remains confident the goals will come. "It doesn't worry me," he said. "We have created chances, everyone can see that."
Hibs showed flashes of inspiration, but these moments were fleeting in a match where the dominating theme was the physical attributes of the opponents. Hibs were dwarfed in midfield especially. The lightweight combination of Dean Shiels, Joe Keenan and Alan O'Brien were outmuscled in the first-half. Steven Thicot provided Hibs with some presence in that area. The young French player was deployed in a role where he operated just in front of the centre-backs. He stuck to his task and provided some guile until he went off just after the hour-mark, as Hibs made their second raft of substitutions.
Hibs goalkeeper Andrew McNeil, who was looking to atone for errors committed during Saturday's defeat against Middlesbrough, caught the eye in the opening minutes. He twice made saves which prevented certain goals. First McNeil did well to block at his near post as Zaki aimed to convert from close range, and then the keeper stylishly tipped a header from the same player over the bar a minute later. A David van Zanten clearing header which came back off his own post reflected the extent of Hibs' disarray.
Hibs came closest to scoring two minutes before the break. A free-kick from Chris Hogg was helped on by Jones. The lurking Fletcher latched on to the opportunity and volleyed towards the far corner of the goal. Wigan were saved by the post, however. Colin Nish had the chance to convert the rebound but, when off-balance, swiped only at fresh air. Shiels, who was following-up, then wildly lashed the ball wide.
It was a moment which seemed typical of Hibs' luck at present and the second-half offered little respite. McNeil's form of the opening minutes was but a memory when he carelessly threw the ball out of play. The next he knew Wigan had built up an attack on the other flank, with Zaki ending a powerful run into the box with a neat finish over the prone McNeil. The keeper was immediately replaced by David Grof, who was later saved by a post after Marlon King sought to double his side's advantage from the edge of the box.
Hibs: McNeil (Grof 70); Van Zanten (McCann 62), Hogg (McCormack 70), Jones (Canning h-t), Hanlon (McCann 62); Shiels (Morais h-t), Thicot (Chisholm 62), Keenan (Rankin h-t), O'Brien (Campbell 62); Nish (Trialist), Fletcher (Yantorno).
Wigan Athletic: Nash; Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa; Brown, Palacios, Valencia, Kapo; Zaki, Heskey.
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