By Hibernian FC

Goals from Priscila Chinchilla, Niamh Farrelly and ex-Hibee Lauren Davidson saw the Glasgow side take all three points back west, ending Hibs’ run of victories and clean sheets.

Speaking to the media team after the game, Gibson had this to say on the match.

“It’s not often I stand after a defeat and feel as low as we do today, because if we lose the games, there’s usually a bit of fight about us. If we don’t win it, we make It difficult for the opposition to win it – we made it very easy today. We were too passive, we stood off and there was no aggression really.

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“I don’t know where that performance has come from. We’re normally one of two things, we’re normally a good football team or a very hard team to break down, and we weren’t a very good football team and we weren’t a very ahrd team to break down today.

“Poor goals to lose. The first one, I think it’s a cross, which is a bit of luck on their part, but we need to stop the cross coming into our box. The second one… there’s never an excuse for someone else winning a header, whoever’s marking the player has got to win that header.

“I don’t think there was a lot in the game, but we never looked like we were in the game today. I don’t think Glasgow City were at their best today either, but they did the most important thing, which was score goals.”

Mentioning the first two goals, Gibson was then asked about City’s third, which came deep in second-half stoppage time. After Ode Fulutudilu’s effort was saved by Gabby English, the striker could pass the rebound across for Davidson to tap into the empty net. While a three-goal margin could be considered as harsh, Gibson explained that Hibs’ decision-making let them down in that situation.

“I think we got what we deserved at that moment. Decision-making was poor, we’ve over-committed – not over-committed in terms of trying to get a goal back, but in that scenario in the middle of the pitch, we’ve got to do better. We’ve got to effect it in some way, if you go and commit, you’ve got to take the foul or whatever you might have to do to stop the momentum.

“I think our decision-making has killed us today. That performance is a one-off – we’ve lost games before, but we’ve never lost in the manner that I felt we lost it today. I just didn’t feel like there was much there from us today and we need to pick ourselves up for next week.”

We’ve got a big game coming up on Sunday, it’s the biggest game of our season, it’s a semi-final.

Dean Gibson

Of course, next week brings the biggest game of Hibs’ season so far, as they take on Fran Alonso’s Celtic in the semi-finals of the SWPL. Hibs are the current holders of the cup, and have been since 2016 – in order to keep their hands on the trophy, Gibson is looking for a big improvement.

“It has to be [an improved performance], it’s a semi-final. We need to sleep on it tonight, be hurt tonight, but as soon as tomorrow comes, we need to move on. We’ve got a big game coming up on Sunday, it’s the biggest game of our season, it’s a semi-final.

“For us, we need to let today go. We’ll try and work put what went wrong and put it right, and improve on it for Sunday, but from the players’ perspective, we need to put it to bed now and move forward, so we’ve got confidence.

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Also speaking to the Hibs media team after the match was Alexa Coyle. The forward was recalled to the starting XI this weekend, and like Gibson, was quick to express her disappointment at the loss. For the American though, focus has to quickly shift to next weekend’s semi-final.

“I’m very excited, it’s obviously a big match. I think we need to take what we can learn from this match, but I think it’s great timing that we’ve got another big game coming up that we can use this loss as motivation for.

“It’s motivation enough that it’s a semi-final and a great opportunity ahead of us, so we’ll be shifting our focus to that and training hard this week in preparation.”

Hibs’ semi-final clash with Celtic will kick off at Forthbank Stadium at 4:30pm on Sunday 14thNovember.

Supporters are able to buy tickets at the gate, with admission costing £5 for adults and £2 for children/concessions.

Words - Jack Donnelly

Photos - Craig Doyle