Hibernian

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Will Fish says he is drawing on experience from more senior players at Hibs, as he reiterates his main focus is success with the Easter Road club.

“We’ll do everything we can to get three points,” said the Manchester United loanee.

“We’ve just got to stick to the game plan, trust the gaffer and coaching staff and their ideas and trust the process and we’ll be fine.

“You’ve got to use the players that have experience to manage the game and if it’s working against us then we have to change our ways, but the ideal plan is to just stick to what we’ve been doing.

“I am a young player, who’s still learning the game and picking up from the more experienced players, it’s a massive help for me and I really appreciate it.

“I think I’m doing okay, it’s the experience of being around these guys, playing at 3pm on a Saturday in front of an unbelievable fan base and you want to do well, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with that but I feel like I’m doing okay, it’s not even half way through the season yet.

“I’m fully focused on playing for Hibs, I’m really enjoying the new manager and his team, my main focus is to try and win as many games for Hibs, I’m really happy.

“In an ideal world nine points before the winter break would be unbelievable, the league is so tight so we could be up to third, so that’s the aim and that’s what we’re going to try and do.”

Ever wondered what Nick Montgomery is shouting at his players from the Easter Road dugout?

Fans will be able to find out as the Hibs manager is set to wear a microphone during the upcoming Edinburgh derby as part of Sky Sports' coverage on 27 December.

Montgomery will also be interviewed by the commentary team as the game goes on, while assistant coach Sergio Raimundo will wear a body cam to show the perspective from pitch level.

There will be unique interviews as part of the broadcast too, with the manager speaking from his office ahead of the game and a player going through his pre-match preparations with the audience, as well as on-pitch interviews after the final whistle.

Footage from the home dressing room will also be shown before kick-off, at half-time, and after the game.

Neil Doncaster, SPFL chief executive, said: “We’re really pleased to have been able to work with both clubs and Sky Sports to showcase their latest broadcasting innovations, helping put supporters right at the heart of the action in the Edinburgh Derby.

“It promises to be a cracking game and we’re excited to see how the technology brings the match experience even closer for viewing fans.”

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Hibs will have to make do without a couple of Socceroos after the winter break.

That's because Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller have been named in Australia's 26-man squad for next month's Asian Cup, hosted by most recent winners Qatar.

The duo will be gone until at least the end of the group stage, which concludes on 23 January, three days after Nick Montgomery's side return to action to face Forfar Athletic in the Scottish Cup.

If Australia repeat their exploits of 2015 and go all the way, Hibs could be missing their Aussies until the middle of February. It's a fact the manager may have to bear in mind with the January window looming.

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Hibernian need to be "brave" as they try and execute manager Nick Montgomery's game plan. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Hibs will not abandon their risk and reward tactics because of one costly mistake in last week's loss at St Johnstone, says Montgomery. (Record), external

A leading Achilles' specialist has cleared Hibs' versatile player Chris Cadden to return to training in January. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip

• Ross County are unbeaten in three league meetings with Hibs (W1 D2) – previously going four without defeat to the Easter Road side once before in the top flight (October 2012 to August 2013).

• Hibs have only lost one of their last five Scottish Premiership visits to Ross County (W2 D2), a 1-0 defeat in November 2021.

• Ross County have kept three clean sheets in their last four home Premiership matches (W2 D1 L1), although they did concede last time out in Dingwall – a 1-0 defeat to Dundee.

• Hibs have lost two of their last three away league matches (W1), as many defeats as in their previous 10 (W2 D6 L2).

• Hibs manager Nick Montgomery has never lost consecutive matches in the Premiership, but could do so following their 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone last time out.

Hibernian must use Bill Foley's £6m cash injection to become the third force in Scotland with an astute transfer plan, says former striker Tam McManus. (Daily Record)

Nick Montgomery told last year's player of the season Joe Newell that he could give even more to the team - and he has responded, says the Hibernian manager. (The Scotsman)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

Hibs manager Nick Montgomery has defended the standard of the Scottish Premiership after comments by Ross County boss Derek Adams.

Adams described it as "shocking" after his side lost 1-0 to Dundee at the weekend, but Montgomery says he has seen a "really competitive league" since he took the Easter Road job earlier this season.

“New managers come in all the time, and the first thing is you have to get the players onside," Montgomery said.

"Obviously Derek’s come in there a few weeks ago, and was very frustrated on the weekend. I don’t really concentrate on anyone other than Hibs and the job I’m doing here.

“I don't agree with his comments but he’s entitled to his opinion. I think it’s a really competitive league, the standard is very good. You only have to look at the three Scottish teams in Europe last week."

The Englishman says he was thoroughly disappointed with the "flat" performance in defeat by St Johnstone last time out, but insisted it won't change the way he wants his side to play.

“When you want to create an identity, it’s important the players buy in," Montgomery added. "Sometimes conditions make it hard; what’s important is that players stick to the principles you work on in the week.

"Sometimes it doesn't go to plan for whatever reason, but I want the players to be brave. One bad result isn't reason to change what you’re doing. It was a really slow game [against St Johnstone] and that’s a reflection of me because I’m responsible for the results and performances.

"You get back on the training ground, work hard and continue to implement how you want to play.

“We have to earn the right for every point in this league. We just concentrate on the next game and trying to take maximum points.”

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Hibs manager Nick Montgomery spoke to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership trip to Ross County on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• The level of performance in the defeat to St Johnstone wasn't up to standard, with Montgomery describing the whole game as "really flat and slow".

• Despite that result, it doesn't affect his long-term plan at Hibs or his principles: "Sometimes it doesn't go to plan for whatever reason, but I want the players to be brave."

• Montgomery strongly disagrees with County manager Derek Adams' criticism of Scottish football, saying: "It’s a really competitive league; the standard is very good." He added that you only have to look at results in European competition last week to see the strength of the Premiership.

• Paul Hanlon took a knock in the St Johnstone game, but has trained this week. There was no update on longer-term absentees, who he expects to be out until after the winter break.

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Sixth-place Hibs travel to Dingwall on Saturday looking to atone for last weekend's dismal defeat at St Johnstone.

What changes would you make? Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your starting XI here.

American billionaire Bill Foley will invest an initial £6m into Hibernian if and when the Scottish FA gives its approval to him taking a minority stake in the club, with the majority of that cash earmarked for player recruitment amid plans to also upgrade the East Mains training ground with a full-size indoor facility. (Scottish Sun), external

Hibernian head coach Nick Montgomery believes Ross County could struggle to attract recruits from England as a result of returning manager Derek Adams' harsh words about the standard of the Scottish Premiership compared to his previous club, Morecambe, in England's League Two. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Matty Fairnie, Longbangers podcast, external

You’ll have been hard pushed to find a worse performance across most major leagues than the one put on by Hibernian on Saturday. To say we were bad would be an understatement.

Without a solitary shot on target throughout the 90 minutes, Hibs also gave St Johnstone an early Christmas present when Dylan Levitt’s wayward pass was collected at the edge of the area by St Johnstone’s Graham Carey who fired past David Marshall with almost an hour played.

By then, Marshall had made several saves to keep the scores level, and of all the Hibs players to take to the field on Saturday, it is only Marshall who can feel aggrieved to end up on the losing side.

Hibs were without Joe Newell, who missed the game through suspension, and we certainly missed him. Without Newell running the midfield, Jimmy Jeggo and Dylan Levitt played the game deep in Hibs’ own half, leaving the forward players woefully isolated.

It was an awful game of football. Ross County’s manager, Derek Adams, got stuck into the standard of Scottish football after watching his side lose to Dundee. For his sake, I hope he didn’t catch this game on Sportscene.

Nick Montgomery was able to pull out some positives in his post-match interviews, but to be honest, the main positive from a punter’s point of view, was that the game was over and could be filed away in the ‘games to make you reconsider your life choices’ category of Hibs matches.

The game came at the end of what was an exciting, yet ultimately disappointing week at Hibs, with the club presenting their case to allow billionaire Bill Foley to buy a minority stake in the club to the SFA on Thursday. Rather than getting the news that everything was approved, Hibs instead said that they’d had a “positive” meeting and would now seek permission for a concession on Article 13, which governs dual ownership.

Given the performance on Saturday, Montgomery will be hoping that’s signed off sooner rather than later so that he can do some much-needed surgery on a squad that is looking increasingly thread-bare.

Hibernian left-back Jordan Obita admits the lacklustre defeat at St Johnstone "was probably one of our worst games" of his first season in Scotland. (The Scotsman)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

• Hibernian attempted three shots in this game, their lowest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have scored in their last four games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of four games from 1 February 2023 to 25 February 2023.

• Hibernian attempted 499 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Hibernian failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Scottish Premiership since facing Livingston on 30 April 2022.

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There's a few unhappy Hibees after St Johnstone were comfortable winners in Perth. Here's what you had to say...

Colin: That was a very poor performance today. Marshall was again our best player which is a worry! Joe Newell was missed as a player and leader. Players not stepping up to the plate when it mattered. Where was the fight, hunger and pride in the jersey?

Bill: Not a surprise, we are careless in possession and weak physically. Ross County and Hearts will be rubbing their hands in anticipation. Too many players think they are better than they are.

George: Well, who opened the cupboard and let out the ghosts of Christmases past? In short, that was grim. With no Newell, there was a huge hole in midfield. Positives; Marshall saved us from an embarrassing walloping. Well done VAR re the reversing of a poor red card. That's it. Negatives; keep this up and we'll be back in bottom half of league pronto.

John: Huge disappointment. Take Newell out the team and we have no quality in midfield, his influence on the team should not be underestimated. Hopefully, it's something he recruitment team are going to put right.

Mark: Easy three points for St Johnstone. Most teams know what we are going to do, so they just close us down and wait for a mistake to pounce on. If the manager hasn't got other tactics, or better players up his sleeve, there will be a lot more days like today ahead.

Billy: Toothless, gutless and clueless. The worst performance of the season.

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Amy Canavan, BBC Scotland at McDiarmid Park

Jordan Obita admits Hibernian were their own worst enemy on Saturday as they succumbed to defeat against St Johnstone.

"We felt we should've been much better than we were, we're really disappointed," the defender told BBC Scotland after the 1-0 loss.

"We didn't create too much at all. We didn't move the ball quick enough. We weren't up to scratch, so we'll go back onto the training ground and try and put it right next week.

"They knew we were going to try and play out from the back regardless and they waited for a mistake and that's how they got their goal.

"It was due to our own performance that we lost, we need to put it right. On our day when we are performing well, we can beat anyone."

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Undeniably one to forget at McDiarmid Park, Hibs fans.

Whether you make the trip up or watched from home, we want to hear your thoughts following today's dismal defeat.

Have your say here.

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Hibs boss Nick Montgomery told BBC Scotland: "Disappointing result, disappointing performance in patches. We got punished for a mistake and we didn't capitalise on mistakes they made.

"It was one of those games. It seemed like a mistake was going to cost one team a goal and we weren't good enough attacking-wise as a team, we didn't create enough chances. Full credit to them, they defended really well, put lots of bodies behind the ball and it just wasn't to be today.

"I felt in the first half, we started the game well. We had a lot of the ball without hurting them. We needed a little more energy and creativity as a team to break them down. We capitalised on some mistakes but didn't finish them off.

"I can't put my finger on it today. I said to the boys that we can't blame anyone but ourselves. We weren't at the races, knowing the standards that we set.

"It was Dylan (Levitt) that made the mistake. It was a genuine mistake, it's on us as a team. We don't have a go at any individual."

Amy Canavan, BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park

St Johnstone had 14 attempts at goal, with half hitting the target, while Hibs failed to muster a single shot on target.

A lacklustre frontline are likely saved from any post-match debrief vitriol due to the carelessness in possession from those behind them - such carelessness that led to the Saints' winning goal.