A WEEK is a long time in the world of Hibernian FC.
So, too, is 90 minutes if yesterday is anything to go by, as the Easter Road side and Ross County played out a goalless afternoon which comprised all the drama of a staring contest.
The home support would have had to shut their eyes tightly in order to conjure memories of last weekend's win over Kilmarnock, the optimism fostered by that result now punctured by a spiky reaction from the stands after the Leith outfit's latest relapse. Hibs' transfer business had held the attention ahead of yesterday's game - new signing Paul Heffernan was introduced with seven minutes to go following a move from Kilmarnock on Friday - but further moments of interest inside Easter Road were rare.
Unfortunately, much of what Hibs did to punctuate the drudgery was self-harming rather than scintillating - first when Paul Hanlon was turned too easily by Kevin Luckassen inside the penalty area to allow the County forward to shoot across goal after 11 minutes, and then when Michael Nelson ducked a long punt into the box to let Luckassen in behind again. His low cross was poked wide by Rocco Quinn.
There were more moments of anxiety for Hibs, but again they were the cause of their own frustration. None of the home side reacted to close down Mihael Kovacevic when he sent a shot against a post early in the first half and there was a general lack of conviction in how Hibs moved the ball; strikers Rowan Vine and James Collins too often forced to drop deep in search of a touch or scavenge down one of the channels. When Collins was presented with a promising chance to unnerve County on the cusp of half-time, he could only direct a deep cross from Ryan McGivern against a post.
"James just needs to keep plugging away," said Hibs manager Pat Fenlon, who revealed that a move for Ipswich Town winger Josh Carson could not be agreed. "His record of scoring is very good," added the Irishman.
The Edinburgh side proved unable to get any closer to a goal - Vine lifted a shot over the bar early in the first half and Liam Craig's free-kick was tame - and that would have brought some comfort to County, even if their campaign has still been beset by want. The Highland side had conceded 12 goals in their opening five matches, three of those in a League Cup defeat by Stranraer earlier this week, and they have just one win to their name in the league this season. And that came against St Mirren, who have failed to win any Premiership games thus far.
It is still much too early in the season to awaken thoughts of Derek Adams losing faith in some of his players, of course, and the County manager started with the same side which succumbed at Stair Park on Tuesday. They succeeded in avoiding a similarly discomfiting result yesterday, although County might still feel tarnished by their contribution to a game which started poorly and then took a turn for the worse. When Graham Carey seized possession from County substitute Melvin de Leeuw in the box midway through the second half and prodded a shot wide, he raised a hand in apology to his team-mate. If he could have offered such a gesture on behalf of all those on the pitch, it would have been fitting.
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