Craig Gordon insists Toby Sibbick’s Euro masterclass can be the turning point in his Hearts career.
The versatile defender has been a scapegoat for the Tynecastle boo-boys when things have gone wrong. But the way the 23-year-old held RFS at bay as the Jambos sealed a 2-1 victory over the Latvians on Thursday night won him new fans. When Robbie Neilson ’s side needed heroes to see out the win, their first in seven matches, Sibbick stepped forward. Instead of jeers, it was cheers – and by the end the supporters were singing his name in a way Gordon hopes can prove a watershed moment.
The Hearts skipper said: “I have to give a special mention to Toby for his performance on Thursday night. He never put a foot wrong. He drove the team from the back. For someone so young to be able to do that, he was absolutely fantastic.
“I am sure the fans will remember this result for his performance. He started it all off, he won the ball for the first goal by heading it back where it came from. He was a dominant centre-half and we got the first goal from that.
“From there he grew into the game and it’s one of the best centre-half performances I have seen in a while.”
Now in his second spell in Gorgie after a previous loan stint was turned into a permanent move in January, Sibbick first moved north from Barnsley in 2020. The stopper made just two appearances because of injury and illness, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It has not gone according to plan since returning either. Despite a raft of injuries to defenders, the Englishman has found it hard to hold down a place for the Jambos.
He wasn’t helped by a red card in August’s 2-0 defeat to Celtic but Gordon is confident Sibbick can now go from strength to strength. The Scotland keeper added: “It’s massive for him. He’ll still have days where things don’t go for him, he’s still a young boy in his position. But everything came together.
“He was outstanding and a leader on the pitch. The fans were singing his name for the last 15, 20 minutes because every time it came up he won it. He was absolutely first-class.
“That’s what we knew was in there and he’s starting to prove it now. Hopefully that is a huge confidence boost.
“He’s aware that he has come in for criticism but he is still so young and has shown his class. That’s been coming and I hope it’s the big turning point for him because he really could be a special player for us.”
Hearts end their Europa Conference League campaign away to Basaksehir in Istanbul on Thursday and will be looking for one last high. Gordon insists the Jambos are desperate to prove they have learned from the experience by getting back to European competition next term. To do that, he knows they need improvements domestically, starting with today’s trip to face Ross County.
He said :“We got a good result against RFS, now we have to build on that in the league. We go to Dingwall with the confidence of Thursday night.
“We want to try to get back to Europe and the only way we can do that is by putting together a good run in the league now.”
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