MARTIN BOYLE is increasingly becoming Hibs’ most influential and important player – and was once again the difference maker on Saturday against Aberdeen.
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A goal in each half for the Australian international capped off an impressive week. The previous weekend he scored the insurance goal in a 2-0 win over Dundee United and also grabbed another in midweek against St Mirren, where he also assisted Ryan Porteous’ opener.
And Boyle revealed after Saturday’s match that his recent form has been in part motivated by personal reasons, after his father Graeme suffered a stroke.
“That’s why I was out of the team for Rangers,” Boyle explained.
“Obviously I know at the back of my mind that he’d kill me if I wasn’t playing. Thankfully I’ve managed to pick up and put in a shift for the big man at the moment.
“He’s on the mend, which is good, hopefully that continues. He’s been by my side from the start, which is crucial. I’ve hit a bit of form for him.”
The win gave Hibs breathing room in third place, they now hold a five-point advantage over Aberdeen, and subsequently dealt with a monkey that has been on their back all season.
When pressure has surfaced this season, Hibs have struggled to deal with it. They’ve lost twice in semi-finals and had suffered defeat in their two previous matches with nearest challengers Aberdeen this season.
“We had too {win},” Boyle insisted of Saturday’s result.
“The semi-finals weren’t good enough. We had to come out and show that we had fight and spirit in this team and give the fans what they deserve and push for third.
“We know that we have the capabilities of finishing there, but we need to earn the right and today we did. We were in their faces; they are a good side and we dominated in our box and in midfield as well and we did take our chances.
“We know what is at stake this season, we want to play European football.
“It would be massive for the club and obviously massive for us in the dressing room.”
While, as admitted by Boyle, Hibs knew only a win would suffice on Saturday Aberdeen were similarly in need of a result. Pressure has continued to grow on Derek McInnes in recent weeks and a run of just one win in seven matches before kick-off hasn’t done much in the way off easing fans’ frustrations.
And while Aberdeen did start with a better intensity than they’ve shown recently, they fell behind midway through the first-half when Boyle fired home a penalty that had been won by Jamie Murphy. Lewis Ferguson was adjudged to have fouled Murphy inside the area and Boyle did the rest from the spot.
Chris Cadden’s signing has allowed Boyle more freedom on the park as shown by four goals in a week. No longer restrained by the defensive responsibilities bestowed upon on him when playing at wing-back, his threat running in behind teams means that Hibs hold a greater counter-attacking threat once they have a lead to hold onto.
And as the visitors poured men forward in an attempt to breach the home defence, those gaps Boyle is increasingly astute at exploiting began to open. When Lewis Stevenson gathered the ball near the half-way line and slid the ball in behind the Aberdeen defence for Boyle to pounce upon, a goal seemed an inevitability. The former Dundee man was composed enough to finish through the legs of Joe Lewis to secure the points 20 minutes from time.
McInnes’ side showed so little offensively and while he pointed out his new forwards would take time to adjust, his side now face an uphill battle to finish third.
“We’re not carrying that threat going forward and individual slight errors have led to goals for the opposition. To be honest that’s cost us,” admitted winger Jonny Hayes after the match.
“The manager is always going to be the one that carries the faults for his players. We know as a player group we’ve not been good enough, simple as.
“I think players have to bear responsibility, myself included.
“As a team we’re not playing well enough, that’s the be all and end all for me.”
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