‘Hands off’ warning as star keeper foils Hibs
Magennis (13)
Bolton (90) Micky Mellon has a cunning plan for dealing with would-be buyers of Ben Siegrist next month.
“We will turn the phones off and pretend we don’t have mobiles!”
As the flippant comment suggests, the Tangerines manager was left in high spirits after watching the Swiss keeper turn in a sensational display to help the visitors grab a point.
“If you are going to come to places like Hibs and get something you have to have a good goalkeeper – and we have one,” he said. “He is terrific, he’s top drawer.
“It hasn’t happened overnight, he’s worked his socks off for it, but he wants to be the best version of himself he can be.
“From a manager’s point of view I want him working less and know we have to work on things defensively.
“But to know you have a guy there who is able to make saves like he made today is terrific.
“January? We will turn the
phones off and pretend we don’t have mobiles!”
Siegrist’s star turn – which included four brilliant stops from Christian Doidge alone – was the highlight of an entertaining Easter Road encounter.
Having left it late to see off the challenge of Alloa in the Betfred Cup quarter finals in midweek, Hibs had started off in a hurry.
They went straight on the attack playing the quick, slick, confident football that has lifted them up to second place in the Premiership table.
It paid off. Kyle Magennis got them in front inside quarter of an hour with a cross-cum-shot from the left.
Team-mate Doidge tried to claim it but his contribution consisted more of distracting Siegrist .
That was tough on the 28-year-old who by then had already denied Doidge with a stunning, instinctive save.
The striker’s header from close range looked for all the world a goal but he managed to touch the ball on to the post.
He was as good after it too, reacting instantly when Tangerines skipper Mark Reynolds threatened to put Martin Boyle’s cross through his own net.
Another great stop from a Doidge shot, had the United man shaking his head in disbelief.
Martin Boyle was next to be foiled.
The winger, sent through by a lovely lob from Paul Mcginn, was arguably guilty of hitting the ball straight at Siegrist but he deserved it because he had done well to narrow the angle.
United were poor in the first 45 minutes, offering little in a creative sense.
Mellon could not let it continue and on their return from the break they were a changed side.
Their attitude was better, spikier and more urgent.
With Paul Mcmullan and Luke Bolton introduced for Ryan Edwards and Nicky Clark, they switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
It gave them a shape the players were happier with and they became more competitive as a result.
United had to be careful not to over commit, however, as Hibs oh so nearly went two up when Kevin Nisbet flashed a shot just past from decent position.
Nisbet caused all the sorts of problems for the visitors’ backline in the late stages and his lovely through ball to strike partner Doidge deserved better than the failure to hit the target that it got.
They paid dearly for it too with Luke Bolton smashing home a rebound at the back post at the death to earn United a deserved point.