HIBS DEFENDER OPENS UP ON PRESSURE TO PERFORM AND GETTING 'GRIEF' FROM PUNTERS

Playing each game as if it’s yourlast. Learning to cope with the pressure of performing at a big club with loftyexpectations. Understanding that the flip side of a passionate support is takinga bit of “grief” on occasion.

The Hibs players who walked over toapplaud the travelling fans in Dingwall yesterday afternoon knew they weren’tgoing to get an easy ride from punters who had incurred inconvenience and expenseto support their team in a Highland misadventure. With many in the squad – and possiblyin the technical area – perceived to be playing for their futures, plenty ofthe paying customers gave voice to demands for a clear-out. All part of life asa footballer at Hibernian FC.

Fullback Jordan Obita, summing up theapproach taken by players dumped into the Scottish Premiership bottom six andinvited to lift themselves for five games of limited appeal, explained: “Eachseason you go into you know that some players are in contract, and some are outof contract. Every single game you go into, no matter if it’s at the start, themiddle, or the end of the season, you should be playing it like it’s your last,and giving everything.”

Agreeing that even the playersapparently secure in their positions have a point to prove, given the way theirbid for a top-six spot collapsed with the finish line in sight, Obita added: “Ofcourse; this is a big club.  You should always play with pride and alwayswant to do well.

"Whether you’ve got nothing toplay for and three games left, or you’re in the top six pushing for a Europeanslot, you should be playing the game the exact same way. Even with myself, Iprobably didn’t realise just how big a club it was until I got here, and Irealised straight away. It’s a massive club and the expectations are reallyhigh.

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“Some of the boys who came in inJanuary came from big clubs in big leagues and I’m sure they’re aware of theexpectation that you hit the ground running when you come here. And I thinkthey have; it’s just unfortunate that we’re sometimes not getting the resultswe deserve, but at full-time it’s the score that matters the most.”

Beaten 2-1 by a County side looking toput themselves clear of the relegation play-off place, Hibs had all their oldfailings exposed by the Staggies. Easy on the eye, fluid in attack butprofligate in the conversion of chances, they were ultimately made to pay for notscoring two or three. Both goals conceded were awful. Darkly comic mistakesthat speak to the sort of flaws unlikely to be fixed without wholesale changesto the team.

Providing some insight to thelonger-than-usual interaction with supporters after the final whistle inDingwall, Obita said: “Our fans are always behind us. Sometimes you get grief. Butthat’s football.

“After the game we had a chat, and ifyou lose the game, you deserve whatever is said to you. But next week we’reback at home and hopefully we can put some smiles back on the faces of ourfans.”

The former Reading fullback, expandingon the idea – touted by manager Nick Montgomery last week – that players needthe right mentality to withstand the pressure of playing for Hibs, said: “Ithink that’s the case in British football in general, whether it’s back inEngland or whether it’s here. You’ve got to give 100 per cent. It’s not alwaysabout ability. 

"You see some players in lowerleagues with lots of quality, but they don’t run enough or they’re not physicalenough and they don’t make it. But, especially in Scotland, I think you have togive everything. And I think that’s what’s most important.”

Defeat to Don Cowie’s team, followingthe loss of another late goal, saw Hibs lose whatever momentum they’d built upby winning their first post-split fixture, away to St Johnstone last weekend,with something to spare. If yesterday’s game was always likely to be the mostchallenging fixture on the dance card, leaving with zero points – after creatingso many goal scoring opportunities – has to have damaged morale in the group.

“Yeah, you’re obviously disappointed,especially when you’re coming off a win last week,” said Obita. "I thoughtwe played well in the first half and probably should have been three or fourgoals up, but we didn’t take our chances. But that’s something we’ve beensaying throughout the season.

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“We went 1-0 up and I thought we couldtry to get another, but like I said, we just didn’t take our chances to try toget two or three-nil up. Then they scored, and we were on the back foot a bitbecause they gained a bit of momentum. I thought physically we matched them butsometimes - and we’ve said this a lot all season as well - the other team getsa chance, and they seem to take it.”

2024-05-05T21:45:05Z dg43tfdfdgfd