Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk said he felt sick in the stomach after seeing Hibs slump to the foot of the table. But the new Easter Road boss still believes his side can escape the danger zone – provided they learn to cut out costly blunders.
Two of them gifted Falkirk striker Jacob Murrell the first-half double which consigned the Leith men to defeat despite Owen Elding pulling one back before half-time.
Reedijk: 'We are a thief of our own wallet'
Dutch boss Reedijk said: “I think we are a thief of our own wallet. I think we gave away two easy goals.
“We dominated the game and created a few good chances but I think we have to create even more chances.
“That’s what I think of the game. But we need to make more of that out of this game. If you dominate in this way, you can’t lose.”
But Hibs did just that for the seventh consecutive home league match allowing both Falkirk and Kilmarnock to leapfrog them in the standings and spoil Reedijk’s first match at Easter Road.
Focus on the next match
It isn’t clear if he arrived in the capital expecting to be embroiled in a relegation battle but that is exactly what he now faces. Reedijk, though, is confident Hibs won’t be there for long.
He said: “When you’re at the top of the table or at the end of the table or at the middle of the table, you just need to focus on the next match.
“This is what you can control. This is where you can have the influence.
“Where we are at the moment, we cannot influence. This is a fact.
“So, we have to keep on focusing on the football things we need to do, the mental things we need to do.
“And our mindset needs to be in the way that we keep on doing what we’re doing, because although this result gives me a sick feeling in my stomach, I saw a better team today and I see progress.
“We need to look forward and not backwards.”
Murrell double decides contest
Hibs did dominate for long periods but it was the Bairns who made the most of the moments that mattered, to grab their first away win of the Premiership campaign.
Murrell’s double gave John McGlynn’s side the upper hand and while he quite rightly enjoyed the adulation of the vocal travelling support, Hibs also played their part in both of his goals.
Some sloppy midfield play by the home side in the 13th minute saw Ryan Strain gain possession and he fed Murrell to slam a superb long-range shot past Raphael Sallinger.
He was just as grateful in the 37th minute when Thibault Klidje’s naive backheel out by the corner flag went to Falkirk’s Ethan Ross, who then set up Murrell for his second.
In a game starved of much quality, that was only a couple of examples of the Leith men making poor decisions and they ultimately cost them the points.
Pressure fails to pay off
They tried to chase the game down but despite pulling one back through Elding before the interval, they couldn’t make their second-half pressure count.
That was much to the dismay of Reedijk, who said: “I think if we do it like this, like we played today, and avoid these mistakes and make more of our chances – because I heard we had 20 shots, of which there are seven on goal – then there will be more shots on goal eventually.
“And also, eventually, there will be no goals against.
“So that gives us at least something we are creating. And if we then don’t make the individual mistakes, then we also don’t concede a lot.”
Both managers tried to shuffle the pack. In Falkirk’s case it was a case of getting fresh legs on as they fought and grafted to protect their lead. For Hibs it was a case of looking for some answers.
The introduction of Jamie McGrath did give them some hope as he lashed a couple of shots at goal. But Bairns keeper Scott Bain was equal to the best of them and when Hibs shortcomings were booed at the final whistle, it would have been music to McGlynn’s ears.
Too many times his men have slipped up late in games but against Hibs, they defended solidly and worked hard collectively to earn their win.
Backing Reedijk’s positive projections, the Falkirk manager insisted Hibs will soon start winning games.
But, stuck at the foot of the table, they will need to start doing that sooner rather than later and to do that they will need to improve at both ends of the pitch.
