It can be difficult to see through the gloom of derby disappointment, but Nick Montgomery is adamant Hibs remain on the right track.

As 2024 approaches, the manager reflected on what will soon be fourth months in charge at Easter Road. There have been ups and downs, certainly, and the long-term trajectory is not yet clear as the second-half of the campaign looms into view.

Montgomery has overseen an ongoing overhaul of Hibs' style of play, blooded academy prospects, and offered a way back for players who appeared destined to quietly depart the club before long. Results, though, have fluctuated, a golden opportunity to reach the Viaplay Cup final was missed, and Montgomery is need of reinforcements - both with injuries clearing up and new faces arriving - to ensure the best chance of success post-winter break.

And while Montgomery makes plain that Hibs are nowhere near where he wants them to be, he is convinced progress is being made.

"It is a journey that I came on and a challenge I took on," he reflected. "I came into a club that’s as second from bottom and lost three of the first four games. Since then, two weeks ago we were one point off third position, and two weeks later we lost two games of football, one in the 94th minute, one to a below-par performance against St Johnstone.

"But when I look at my time here, I feel there’s been a lot of progress. We have brought a new identity to the way we play, and have resurrected players’ careers, like Jair Tavares who was not even considered a first team player. I gave a debut to the youngest player in the club’s history on Rory Whittaker, and appearances to Josh Landers and Rudi Molotnikov, and I think when I look at it, there has been  progress here.

"There have been too many draws and games where we lost points from winning positions. I would like to be further up the table, but we are on the right trajectory and hopefully in this window we can bring some players in because we are light on bodies. I can’t control the boys who are injured or not available, I can only control the squad I’ve got.

"It has been ups and downs, but that is normal and part of the process. I will continue to keep working hard and try to improve the squad in January to finish the season strongly."

Not only had it been an adaptation period for his players, but for Montgomery himself. Building from the back in a 4-4-2 shape has been a challenge for the manager to implement, and his team often come up against Premiership opponents deploying a conservative shape that challenges Hibs to break them down.

It's a work in progress, but Montgomery insists that he is trying to mirror a playing philosophy adopted by the elite teams, and that it will take time - and new signings - to perfect.

"You have to adapt to everything, and it is a very physical league," said Montgomery.  "But changing the identity of the way that we play, where we now build out from the back, is something the players have had to adapt to. A lot of the big teams do that and if we want to be a big team then we have to play like a big team and you have to adapt.

"It is a physical league and a lot of teams play five at the back and we have come up against similar formations each week and we have to be better. We need to improve, and I think it is something I will learn from, but we will continue to do what we’re doing and continue to play the way we’re playing. Hopefully, we can get more players in who can help us on the field."