You Have To Maintain Your Shape

Hibs want to do well in Europe and experienced hands will need to guide the youngsters they share the field with Midfielder Kevin Thomson believes discipline and good possession will be key when Hibs open their Europa League campaign against Malmo tonight. Hibs go into the Europa League second qualifying round tie in Sweden with a youthful squad against a team who top their domestic league after 16 games. But Thomson knows how to upset the odds in Europe having helped Rangers make the final of the competition in 2008, when it was still called the UEFA Cup.He said: "You need to play your shape, you need to have discipline, you need to be good on the ball. When you play against these good teams they are all disciplined, they are all good athletes, they don't give it away cheaply. We are going to need to be on our toes and be big and brave. When you go over to these places and play against these good players, sometimes you don't see the ball for good spells, and when you do get it back you then need to take care of it. If we're good on the ball and good in possession and we hold our discipline and listen to the manager, then we have every chance to go through this tie.''Pat Fenlon's team can hope for a full Easter Road in the second leg if they achieve a good result in Scandinavia. And Thomson is well aware a strong backing could fire Hibs to a memorable triumph. Thompson, who signed a one-year contract on Saturday, went on: "The bottom line is staying in the tie. There are two 90 minutes so there is no point going over there and going hell for leather and getting beat three or four nil and the second leg being an anti-climax. I think if we can go over there and stay in the tie, that will be a good target to aim for to bring them back here. If we can put bums on seats and get the place rocking as it has been in the past, then fingers crossed it could stand us in good stead to get us through this tie." Source: ScottishFitba

Source: FOOTYMAD