Hibs are back on the road in the SPFL Premiership this afternoon as we head west to take on St Mirren in the league backed by a big travelling support.
Last weekend another last gasp goal, our third in four league games, saw the points shared as nine man Rangers bleated about refereeing decisions on a day where league momentum at Easter Road continued to build.
Attentions now turn to the trip to Paisley, with St Mirren in decent form following two wins from their last two league games. It’s a ground Hibs have done well at in recent years but we’ll need to put in a strong performance to leave with three points later on today.
Here’s five things to look out for:
Defensive shape
Hibs lined up with a back three against Rangers last Saturday but it seems likely we’ll revert to a four this afternoon, with question marks over Rocky Bushiri’s fitness.
With four goals conceded in the last two league games it’s an area we need to sharpen up in if we are to start delivering wins before the international break in four weeks time.
We have been vulnerable through the middle in recent weeks, with two goals from the four lost at the Tony Macaroni and Easter Road coming from headers in the centre of the box, so we’ll need to have our wits about us today with Curtis Main a threat in the air.
If we do go with a four it’s likely we’ll see Ryan Porteous and Paul Hanlon together in the middle with Chris Cadden and Marijan Čabraja on the flanks.
Forward line
Last weekend’s 3-5-2 saw Martin Boyle and Elie Youan paired together up front with limited success in the first half. Lee Johnson changed things after less than half an hour with the ball failing to stick in the final third so it’ll be interesting to see how we line up this afternoon.
Christian Doidge came into the side in the first 45 and we reverted to a more familiar front three, with Boyle and Youan moving wide to support the big Welshman as the focal point.
All being well fitness-wise today it seems likely that Johnson will start with Boyle, Doidge and Youan as a three.
While Doidge has struggled in recent months, with talk of him departing the club on more than one occasion during the transfer window, assistant manager Jamie McAllister said he’s been pleased with Doidge’s contribution so far and doesn’t believe he’ll be on the move any time soon.
Josh Campbell
The surprise package of the season so far, Josh Campbell has become one of Lee Johnson’s biggest assets.
The versatile midfielder has been deployed at both right and left back during the 22/23 campaign and it’ll be intriguing to see how he is used in Paisley today.
With Marijan Čabraja likely to return at left back, Campbell will need to displace one of the midfielders to keep his starting place in the side.
It’s a good problem for the manager to have with Joe Newell, Nohan Kenneh, Jake Doyle-Hayes and Ewan Henderson all battling Campbell for one of the three midfield slots in the starting XI.
Joe Newell was named the sponsors man of the match last week while Josh Campbell put in a battling performance after moving into midfield for the final hour against Rangers. The Edinburgh lad is starting to build a habit of scoring late goals so time will tell how Lee Johnson sees it today.
Alex Gogić
Lining up for the opposition today could be former midfielder and Cyprus international Alex Gogić.
A player who was in and out of the team during the 2020/21 season and who played his part in securing a third place finish under Jack Ross, Gogić seems to be at home in Paisley with regular first team football on the decline at Easter Road.
Gogić was on loan at the Buddies last season and confirmed his return on a two year deal last Friday. He could be in line to make his first appearance of the season against Hibs this afternoon depending on his fitness.
Strangely enough, Christian Doidge’s assist for Josh Campbell last week was his first for Hibs since he laid off for Gogić’s rocket against Kilmarnock at Easter Road during lockdown.
Travelling fans
Last but not least, the Hibees will be backed by another sold out away end at the SMiSA Stadium this afternoon.
With a mixed bag of results to start the season, one of the constants has been the level of support from the fans at home and on the road.
Despite a disappointing league cup campaign we’ve seen sell outs at every away game of the Lee Johnson reign apart from in Livingston, where the away capacity is amongst the biggest anywhere in the country.
Fans sitting in the aisles at Falkirk, additional stands being opened in Perth and now a sell out in Paisley – there’s a feel good factor around the support at the moment and with a decent run of games coming up hopefully the excellent support can be repaid with putting a few winning performances on the board.
If you’re travelling to watch the boys this afternoon: sing loud, sing proud and enjoy the match.
The East Stand 