THE half-hearted celebrations told its own story. Hibernian may have emerged victorious from their penalty shoot-out against Stirling Albion in their opening Betfred Cup group match but the fact that a League Two side had matched them over 90 minutes seemed a greater cause for concern.
There were, of course, some caveats. This was Hibs’ first competitive game of the new campaign, and manager Paul Heckingbottom chose to throw all six of his summer signings to date – Funso Ojo won’t be joining them despite a lengthy pursuit – into the starting line-up. Hibs also created enough chances to win two matches.
That they also missed all of those from open play, however, would prove to the greatest source of Heckingbottom’s obvious ire afterwards.
“We made it really difficult,” said the Englishman. “The two things that stand out for me are missing chances and the dirty side of the game—the tackles and picking up runners.
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“I thought it would be tough. We are going to have to earn every point we get. Every game away from home in the cup is tough.
“It shouldn’t have been difficult because we created chances we should be putting away. We scored goals in our three build-up matches but we also missed a hell of a lot of chances. We’re pleased we’re creating them but we have to be clinical. If you miss chances, you’ll find it hard and you have to compete in the ugly side of the game.”
Forthbank provided an unlikely setting for the start of a revolution. Hibs’ new American owner Ron Gordon, the ink barely dry on his takeover documents, was among those present to witness the first competitive match of his regime, making small chat in the build-up with the likes of Martin Boyle and David Gray.
It also marked the start of Heckingbottom’s first full season in charge at Easter Road, the manager having wasted little time in shaping the squad to his liking.
One of those signings, Scott Allan, recently rescued from a spell in solitary confinement at Celtic, was the beneficiary of the match’s most contentious moment. Hibs, having toiled in the sunshine to little effect for 44 minutes, were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Stirling penalty box. Stevie Mallan hoisted his shot into the wall and on to the outstretched arm of defender Paul McLean.
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In previous seasons that would have been waved away as accidental hand-ball but, under recent changes to the laws, referee Greg Aitken had little option but to award the penalty despite Stirling’s heated protests. Allan knocked it in for his first goal of his third stint at Hibs.
“They’re asking people to defend with their hands behind their backs which is unrealistic,” said Stirling manager Kevin Rutkiewicz. “I could encourage my players in the box to flick it up and win a penalty. Maybe not in League Two but the higher you go with technically gifted players who are mentally astute they’ll do that.”
Hibs should have been ahead by that point having passed up two good headed opportunities earlier in the first half, both set up by the lively Daryl Horgan. If Christian Doidge could be excused for his miss given Blair Currie’s impressive close-range save, there was nothing to rescue Joe Newell who missed the target completely. At least the debutant had the decency to look sheepish afterwards.
Hibernian continued to take the game to their opponents after the break although with little in the way of sustained menace. Doidge – a decent bet to be the Premiership’s top scorer this season – saw another powerful header blocked, while the mercurial Horgan was unfortunate to poke his shot wide after being played in by Mallan.
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Hibs seemed to be in total control of the contest only to have the rug whipped from under their feet when Stirling fashioned an unlikely equaliser after 69 minutes. It was a goal worthy of a higher stage as David Wilson received a pass and bent his shot high past the despairing Chris Maxwell in the Hibs net.
Hibs rallied late in the match and only a combination of poor finishing and terrific defending denied them a winner in regular time, sending the match to penalties.
Stirling substitute Craig Truesdale would prove the fall guy– missing the decisive kick in the shoot-out – but Rutkiewicz could not fault his players.
“I asked them to win the second half and they did that,” he said. “Our goal was a real bit of quality.”
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