Hibs made it two wins from two as they rounded off their week in the Algarve with a comprehensive 4-2 victory over Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink’s Burton Albion.
Goals from Elie Youan and an Elias Melkersen double did the damage for Lee Johnson’s side against the League One opposition before Nohan Kenneh put the icing on the cake. Burton took a fifth minute lead when ex-Motherwell hero Louis Moult’s free kick deflected off the wall and rebounded off the post before Gassan Ahadme tapped home.
But Youan blasted in his first goal in green and white with a superb 20 yard effort low into the bottom right hand corner after a slide-rule pass from Joe Newall. The on-loan St Gallen man nearly doubled his tally moments later when he fired into the side netting from an angle. David Marshall replaced Kevin Dabrowski at half time and within minutes had to look sharp to deny Ciaran Gilllligan. But sixty seconds later Melkersen slammed Hibs ahead when he side footed home from a Josh Campbell cross.
Melkersen was at it again in the 53rd minute as he ran onto a Runar Hauge pass to drill low past Callum Hawkins. Gilligan tapped home at the back post to narrow the deficit after 77 minutes. But Nohan Kenneh netted his first goal for Hibs when his drive from just inside the box took a wicked deflection past Hawkins.
In the end it was another morale-boosting win for the Leith men as Johnson now turns his attention towards next Saturday’s season opener against Clyde in the Premier Sports Cup. Here’s 6 things we’ve learned from the trip.
Signings of a new era
The travelling Hibees have had a good look at Johnson’s new signings across the two friendlies. In both games the ultra combative Miller has caught the eye with his powerful runs on the right and thundering challenges in defence. Elie Youan playing as a second striker off Christian Doidge looked lively, got in behind on numerous occasions and took his goal superbly. But the introduction of Elias Melkersen at half-time this afternoon was perhaps the biggest positive.
The Norwegian took time to settle after moving from Bodo/Glimt in January but he was sharp, inventive and clinical when it mattered with an impressive double and a third effort which cracked back off the crossbar. Aiden McGeady has shown flashes of the old genius although the 36-year-old remains a week or so behind in his preparation after arriving just eight days ago. Johnson has fielded two entirely different 11s in both games showing there’s depth to his squad - something questioned last season.
Central priority
Johnson has made one more central defender a priority this window but Kyle McClelland has given himself a good chance of stepping up with two solid performances beside Rocky Bushiri on Wednesday and Ryan Porteous this afternoon. The youngster wants first team football after leaving Rangers and looked good in the air and positionally sound. Porteous’ leadership qualities were documented in a youtube clip as he was mic’d up for his 45 minute run out versus Hartlepool and again against Burton he was in the thick of it .. no more so than stepping into a spot of handbags between Christian Doidge and Louis Moult to back up his team mate.
Press, press, press
Fitness is going to be imperative this season as Johnson demands a high tempo, intense style. Not so much possession based but ready to win the ball back quickly once it’s been lost. That’s what much of the week was spent on - building up supreme stamina levels. Both games Johnson has stuck with four at the back and switched between 4/2/3/1 and 4/3/3. The runs of Miller on the right could be a big feature this season.
Backroom bonanzo
Johnson is the man at the top of the new look management but he has brought a bulky backroom team to support his bid to drive Hibs back up the table. Around 20 staff were with Johnson including two assistants - Jamie McAllister and Adam Owen, first team coach David Gray, then a host of analysts, set piece experts, physios, sports science experts, media, kit men and with a stand-in goalkeeping coach Stuart Garden. That position will be filled permanently soon. It’s a modern approach with the workload shared. And that combination is one Johnson believes will bring success back to Easter Road.
Bonding session
This was no holiday camp for the Hibees as the players were put through three days of triple training sessions in the blazing Algarve heat before the friendlies began. But Johnson is big on bonding and building relationships and there was fun dotted throughout the week in the sun culminating on a night out this evening. It’s not just letting the hair down but the boss is big on discovering the leaders in his group and those willing to step up .. to the bar.
Networker Johnson
Hibs opened the doors to both friendlies and also an open training session on Thursday which scores of fans who had made the trip out enjoyed. After the session the manager sat down and held court for a good half hour answering questions on his style, his ambitions and everything Hibs. Very much a modern manager the former Sunderland and Bristol City boss is off to a good start before a competitive ball has even been kicked.
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