Source: FOOTYMAD
High On The Hogg
Hibs have halted their poor run thanks to the return of captain Chris Hogg. Hibs pickup their first three points ay home for seven months under caretaker-coach Alistair Stevenson who is happy to stay in charge until told otherwise. He had captain Chris Hogg to thank for his 100% record ion change of team affairs. Hogg scored a headed double in a seven-minute spell just before half-time to help the Easter Road side end their miserable home form with a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock. Former West Ham and Chelsea assistant boss Steve Clarke is being strongly tipped to take the helm at the club, but Stevenson is carrying on regardless. He said: "I'm thoroughly enjoying the experience but, being realistic, we'll just need to wait and see what happens. We just carry on on a day-to-day basis until we find out there is something else happening. We've taken the training and carried it into the game. If something changes over the weekend or at the start of the week we'll be informed, but we'll be ready to start the boys off on Monday at training again." Kilmarnock had gone ahead inside two minutes, and Stevenson explained: "Chris was a wee bit disappointed with the first goal as he was just kind of getting settled into it. But I thought he responded magnificently, it was a real captain's contribution to get the two goals back. We were trying to deflect away from the home record, we felt to get the three points we needed to get the fans on their feet and behind the team. We had to concentrate, defend well and take our chances and I think we did that. Together they were a team and that's what got them over the finishing line. The fans helped them, really got behind them." The crowd was just 11,256, but Stevenson hopes a tide has been turned to help bring the fans back as the team claimed their first home success since 6 March. He went on: "We are delighted, it's a great three points for us. It was a really difficult game. We got off to a really bad start, losing a goal early doors, but after that I thought they rallied really well. I think the equalising goal came at a great time for us, it gave them a wee lift and then to take the lead just before half-time was fantastic for us. We got pegged back a bit in the second half but we didn't allow them to have many chances." Kilmarnock, who went ahead through David Silva, are playing better than results suggest. They have slipped to 10th spot in the table after passing up chances to build on their early advantage. Manager, the former Hibs boss, Mixu Paatelainen said: "I'm disappointed. It had to come, Hibs' first win, at some point. It was on the cards wasn't it, that it would happen today? I do feel that performances give you results, but the last couple of matches we haven't picked up any points - but we will. It's important we keep passing the ball, don't get frustrated and in the long run we'll be fine. We had a tremendous start but all credit to Hibs, they came back. At times we do have a softness a little bit, we need to be more decisive mentally to keep a clean sheet. Their second goal was a good goal from Hogg's point of view but a terrible, freak goal from our point of view. Today the ball rolled for them and they got three points." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba.net)This is Scottish-Fitba.Net
