A FAMILIAR fitba' refrain is that the league table never lies.
The SPFL Championship standings have been whispering a few home truths to Hibernian too, with the Edinburgh side still in fourth place following a goalless draw with Queen of the South yesterday. Hibs' league position is a consequence of this result, which leaves them three points adrift of Queens, but it is also an uncomfortable reminder that they have still to live up to their epithet as the third biggest team in the division. Second-place Rangers are 10 points further ahead.
Hibs have instead tripped over dropped points this season. They have drawn in each of their last four league matches at Easter Road and also lost away to Queens in September. Since that defeat there had been tentative progress, with the Leith side winning four times, scoring 16 goals and conceded only seven.
Other stats were also in positive yesterday, the home side having the greater amount of possession, the most shots at goal, the most corners. But supporters will have also noted another opportunity missed to establish themselves in the top three.
"It was as if we were waiting for something to happen rather than making something happen," said manager Alan Stubbs, who gave teenage goalkeeper Kleton Perntreou his first senior start as Mark Oxley continues to suffer from back spasms. "One or two players were waiting for someone else to do something before joining in. We haven't done enough to win the game."
The Edinburgh side had a grip on the match throughout, but were unable to wring more than a point from it. Jason Cummings whipped a low shot at goal after seven minutes and then again 20 minutes later, while Queens goalkeeper Zander Clark needed two attempts to gather Scott Allan's dipping drive. A header from Paul Hanlon was also nodded off the line by Mark Kerr.
These were the highlights, but an unedited viewing exposed Hibernian's imperfections. Allan is an inventive figure in midfield who jabbed at the Queens defence, but it refused to yield, with only a burrowing run from Sam Stanton and two scudded shots from Paul Heffernan creating any concern in the second half. A series of stray passes also poured cold water on Hibs' flickering forays.
It took a Queens striker to create a spark when John Baird tugged at Liam Craig's jersey after 42 minutes, with the Hibs midfielder appearing to then hit out at his antagonist. Baird appealed in vain, but his side seemed content to simply allow the match to expire peacefully.
"We didn't come here just to defend, but we've restricted them to only one or two chances. We're happy," said Queens player-manager James Fowler.
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