This is how it feels (Falkirk 12 07 22)

I expected some changes to last Saturday’s starting eleven, but I didn’t think it would be as many as six. I know Lee Johnson wanted to see the six showing him they’re ready and able to play his pressing game, but the truth is that the wholesale changes didn’t really work, and the first 45 minutes was a shambles. Falkirk did to us what Johnson wanted us to do to them and we just couldn’t cope. The pitch didn’t help but that’s no excuse really. It’ll be lessons learned for the manager and I have to say I learned a few things myself.

From the off, Falkirk were up and at us and hunting the ball down whilst our guys failed to gain any meaningful possession. Our centre backs looked jittery and Dabrowski just couldn’t cope with the ball at his feet. Both he and Bushiri struggled in that regard and were being caught flat footed. Inside the first ten minutes, Callum Morrison and Nesbitt both found space to get a shot away but neither could hit the target. Next, McGuffie caused Dabrowski to have to save low to his left whilst Hibs’ first sight of goal came when Newell and Stevenson combined to feed McGeady, but the shot was badly hit and rolled wide of the target.

Hibs enjoyed a short spell of possession around that time and next to have a go was Lewis Stevenson, but his right footed effort was sliced well wide of goal. Little had been seen of Hauge and Doidge who were basically starved of any chance to bear down on goal. A silly foul by Doyle-Hayes on Callum Morrison allowed the Falkirk man to take a quick free kick, finding the impressive Leon McCann wide on the left. Miller failed to cut out the cross and both Bushiri and McClelland were missing in action as Aiden Nesbit glanced a header beyond Dabrowski. The Hibs keeper was caught flat footed and clearly hadn’t learned his lesson from minutes before the goal when he made a hash of trying to clear the ball with his feet, allowing a Falkirk player a clear shot at a gaping goal which he somehow contrived to miss.

It could easily have been 2-0 before the interval but Callum Morrison was adjudged to be offside which was just as well because Bushiri and Dabrowski contrived to make a total hash of clearing the danger.

I expected a raft of substitutions for the second half and Hibs provided four with Miller, McGeady, Hauge and McClelland making way for Cadden, Melkersen, Henderson and Porteous. Personally, I’d have hooked Bushiri before McClelland but at least the manager was taking positive action. Within minutes, Henderson fired a shot that PJ Morrison saved in the centre of his goal. Moments later, Henderson delivered a corner that caused problems for the Falkirk defenders but somehow, they managed to clear their lines.

There was much more purpose to Hibs’ play now and Henderson again manufactured a shot at goal, but PJ Morrison stood firm. It seemed like the frame of the goal was like an extra defender for the home side as it came to their rescue more than once. A couple of bookings kept Kevin Clancy busy as first Melkersen and then Nesbitt saw yellow. Hibs were pushing forward at every opportunity, but Falkirk not only repelled them but created a couple of half chances themselves. Sloppy footwork by Porteous allowed Oliver to race away but the Hibs man caught up with him and cleared the danger.

With twenty minutes left there was a loud appeal for a penalty when a Porteous shot appeared to strike an arm. Hibs players were incensed when Clancy waved the claims away and Bushiri obviously overstepped the mark and was booked for his protest. Two minutes later, Henderson jinked past a defender and struck the ball under the diving PJ Morrison only to see Yeats clear the effort off the line. Josh Campbell was next to see yellow as he scythed McGuffie down to halt a promising Falkirk move. In a frantic couple of minutes, Hibs appealed twice for penalties, but both were turned down by Clancy. Hibs then replaced Stevenson with Kenneh as desperation set in in the hunt for an equaliser. Soon after, Kenneh fired a low cross into the box which Melkersen headed towards goal but agonisingly, the woodwork once again denied Hibs a leveller and then right at the death, Doidge was through one on one with the keeper, fired his shot low which PJ Morrison partially blocked and with the ball rolling slowly towards goal, McKay cleared it away for a corner.

It was always going to be a tricky game as despite the views of some that Falkirk are rubbish, they clearly weren’t tonight. Much food for thought for Lee Johnson who must have been thoroughly disappointed with an insipid first half display and an inability to convert at least one of the numerous chances created in the second half because for most of that half we were all over them.

The players

Dabrowski – Kev was like a rabbit caught in the headlights any time he was looking to use his feet to pass the ball. Certainly, whenever we appoint a goalkeeping coach, he’s going to have to work on that because building from the back is a must for Lee Johnson.

Miller – I thought Lewis struggled a bit against Clyde and hate to say it, but he struggled again tonight. Obviously, he’s just settling in, but he’ll find himself behind Cadden in terms of team selection if he doesn’t get himself going.

Bushiri – I often cringe when I hear players described as a bomb scare but I came close to thinking that of him tonight. Touch of an elephant when the ball is at his feet and alarmingly, he doesn’t seem able to strike a ball hard enough when passing to a team mate.

McClelland – As good as he was against Clyde, he was pretty poor tonight and his positioning for the goal was horrific.

Stevenson – I lost count of the number of times in the first half that he looked up to find a team mate and only saw Falkirk players rushing towards him.

Campbell – Josh got forward plenty but not to any great effect.

Newell – I thought he should have been hooked at half time, rather than McGeady.

Doyle-Hayes – Jake was obviously the designated sitter but when your midfield partners are missing in action that’s a tough gig to perform.

Hauge – Other than a couple of decent runs and a bucket load of effort, Runar looked as though he’s not yet ready for first team football.

Doidge – After an anonymous first half he perked up in the second and might have had a goal, but it was disallowed. Should really have buried the one at the death.

McGeady – His quick feet were not fed enough ball tonight.

Cadden – Brought more of a threat going forward than Miller had managed.

Porteous – His one ‘blip’ aside he tried his best to urge the side forward in looking to get level.

Melkersen – Busy as ever and so unlucky that his glancing header came back off a post.

Henderson – Looked to be our main threat in terms of both creating chances and having a few shots himself. Another who was unlucky to hit the frame of the goal and to see his shot cleared off the line after he’d beaten the keeper.

Kenneh – Wasn’t really on long enough to make much of an impression.

Man of the match – Not too many to highlight but I’m going for Henderson who was the best of our numerous substitutes.

Lee Johnson – I saw him in ‘discussion’ with the fourth official a time or two. He’s finding out just how poor our officials are, I guess.

Kevin Clancy – Enters the Guiness Book of Records for the most penalty claims turned down in a three minute spell.