Hibs forward on 'last gig' and Reedijk's derby tactic tweak

Martin Boyle and Joe Newell have both been dedicated servants to the Easter Road club, both players understanding well the importance of the weekend's result.

They've relished the ups and suffered the downs – and now have a Premier Sports Cup final against Rangers in December to look forward to.

It's not necessarily 'one last heist' for the green and white duo, but the pair – both now 33-years-old – know that big occasions on the biggest of stages need to be savoured when they come.

Boyle and Newell were heavily involved in Hibs' win on Sunday. (Image: Neil Hanna / Shutterstock)

That's how Boyle approached Sunday's semi-final, as his dynamic performance saw him bag another derby goal, and receive a rapturous ovation from the Hibs end as he left the Hampden pitch.

Speaking after the game, he outlined what a first Hampden derby win meant to him and his teammates.

"Joe and I were joking before the game that it was one last gig: it looks like we are going to get another one," he acknowledged. “Everyone knows what this club means to myself and Joe. We show that passion day in and day out.

“We can celebrate memories like Hampden and, if we can help the younger generation coming through, then it is a good pathway for everybody at the club.

“I don’t think anyone expected us to win, given the run [Hearts] had been on and their being in Europe, etcetera, whilst we are bottom of the league. Football is mental.

“We came here and had the belief that we could get a result, and we did. I thought we stuck together, and we will need to continue to do that over the whole season."

It wasn't quite enough to eclipse a first-half hattrick against Rangers at the same stage of the competition five years ago, but it was another memorable Hampden afternoon for Hibs' attacking talisman.

His manager, Marink Reedijk, highlighted that he had 'no doubts' in starting Boyle; a player whom, in his eyes, 'lives for' occasions as important as Sunday's.

However, a bout of sickness had kept Boyle out of the squad for the previous two matches, against Celtic and St Mirren respectively.

That absence motivated Boyle to put in the hard yards on his return, and earn his place in the starting lineup.

“I just got out of my bed the day of the St Mirren game; I texted the doctor to say, 'I feel all right,' but it was too late," he explained. “I had been in my bed three days, and it hasn't been pretty. With the sounds I heard and the sights I saw, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone!

“I don’t know what it was down to, a bug or food poisoning? When I came back in I trained with the young boys; I wanted to keep my head down, and to keep working hard.

“Luckily the manager had faith in me to select me on Sunday for a big occasion, after the boys did well midweek. I'm thankful for that, and happy to contribute.”

And contribute he did. In a slightly different role on the left flank, Boyle provided a consistent attacking threat in a largely dominant first-half performance from Hibs, which saw him coolly dispatch the equaliser from a well-worked move.

Flexibility has been a key part of Reedijk's tactical work at Hibs so far, and Boyle took to the 'free' role with panache.

Although it might not be his regular role moving forward, it was one that the 33-year-old enjoyed – and one that allowed him to cause Hearts headaches.

“I didn’t expect that," he admitted. “As long as I am playing, I am happy.

“It was kind of a free role. You can stay high and wide out there, and can hit them where it hurts. It was a bit more natural for me, where I could get on the ball and run at people.

“It was a nice feeling. I caused a few threats, and managed to get a goal. I enjoyed it – but it could change next week, with the manager’s tactics.

“Fair play to him on Sunday: he got it spot on.”

The real test, though, will be for Hibs to translate their semi-final success into consistency in the league, as they seek to drag themselves off the bottom of the Premiership table.

That begins with Saturday's trip to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie – and Boyle hopes that a derby win can be the catalyst for improved performances moving forward.

“Results haven’t been good enough," he admitted, "but we have that belief that we can turn it around. “We did that a few seasons ago, with the start we had.

“This could be the spark we need, to reignite our season.”