Hibs’ Recurring Late-Game Concessions Highlight Need for Player Performance Improvement

Hibernian has consistently lost more points from winning positions and conceded more goals late in games than any other team. This pattern re-emerged on Sunday night when they gave up an 89th-minute penalty against Dundee United, leading to Mykola Kuharevich’s sending off. The incident originated from a long free-kick delivered into the penalty area, where Mykola Kuharevich committed a foul on Emmanuel Adegboyega. The subsequent penalty allowed the visiting team to secure a draw. This issue also manifested in their previous home fixture, an 87th-minute equalizer by Hearts in the Edinburgh derby, which resulted from a long throw-in into the box. Furthermore, Motherwell’s 2-1 win at Easter Road was sealed by Andy Halliday’s 80th-minute volley, following a long throw from Kofi Balmer. Similarly, Dundee’s 2-2 draw was secured by an 88th-minute goal from Simon Murray, though this particular instance did not originate from a set-piece. This pattern extends to away matches as well; during the 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock, points were forfeited when Jordan Obita fouled Bruce Anderson inside the penalty area in the 90th minute. In October, David Gray’s team held a 2-1 lead against Dundee United at Tannadice until the 85th minute. However, a red card issued to Joe Newell weakened Hibs, resulting in them conceding two goals during injury time. This recurring issue conveys a clear strategy for opposing managers: delivering the ball into the Hibs penalty area in the closing stages of a match often yields a positive outcome, as the Hibs defense tends to become anxious and prone to errors. Following the derby draw, Gray stated, “I’m going to have to say the same thing again, which I’ve said numerous times this season, we’ve let ourselves down in the final moment with people not doing their jobs.” The week prior, he had remarked, “When we were seriously asked questions, we failed to come up with the answers.” On an earlier occasion, he characterized Hibs’ defending during set-pieces as “unprofessional.” The team’s performance in attack is similarly concerning; they have scored only 10 goals, which is the lowest tally in the division, shared with Ross County. Sportscene pundit Neil McCann commented, “I feel sorry for him, because it’s outwith his control,” with former Hibs midfielder Marvin Bartley concurring, “As a manager, you can’t affect that.” While the manager has accepted ultimate responsibility, he emphasizes the necessity for his players to perform their roles consistently for the entire 90 minutes, otherwise, the team risks remaining at the lower end of the Scottish Premiership standings.