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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Tam McManus

Shaun Maloney coffee chat at Hibs won't be one way but derby shows something special is brewing - Tam McManus

It's good to know Shan Maloney is an avid reader of my Record Sport column.

So much so, he's invited me through to the Hibs training ground this morning to tell me personally.

An informal chat with both him and his assistant Gary Caldwell over a coffee is something I'm looking forward to.

As a supporter of the club and someone who will always provide an honest insight into the fortunes of my old club, my motto is without fear or favour.

I'll always call things as I see them and Shaun's offer of a face to face isn't about any finger pointing or ill-feeling.

He's had a read of my opinion on several matters and wishes to outline his philosophy on many aspects of how he wants to manage the team, wants the team to play and it won't be a one-way conversation.

A coffee and a chat which shows an encouraging level of engagement. A mature and frank discussion, the way it should be.

The Edinburgh derby had many big positives for Hibs. Before the game most people fancied Hearts given they are sitting in third spot and 12 points ahead. I don't believe there is much between the teams, what the Jambos have had is consistency.

For the first time since the manager came in, the fans backed the whole team from start to finish.

All you need to do is look at the timeline on Twitter from the likes of Maloney, Caldwell and the players to see how much that backing was appreciated. There's no doubt that superb support contributed to a far better Hibs performance.

A display which was marked by a greater fight, energy and enthusiasm than what's been on show recently.

(SNS Group)

There's no doubt the fans are a huge asset when they support the team in the manner they did on Tuesday night, they were brilliant.

The banners and placards looked great, they were onside from start to finish, never got on the backs of the boys, players and fans were united.

If the fans can continue that at home, it's going to help massively as I've played at Easter Road when things have been going badly and it can become a very difficult place to play but you could hear huge encouragement coming from the stands.

Hibs started the game really strongly, as they had to after losing on the Saturday against Livingston. It was a performance full of dig, desire and heart. Maloney loves to talk about the technical side of the game and I get all that but it's the other side of it, the dig, a desire not to be beaten and a willingness to put it all out there which is just as important and we saw that against Hearts.

If you don't show these qualities and aren't prepared to throw yourself into tackles then you won't pick up points but this was a good, all-round Hibs performance.

The side which started was as strong as Maloney could have put out.

Special mention goes to keeper Kevin Dabrowski who was excellent having waited a long time for his opportunity and he was man of the match. Ryan Porteous was also superb, he had arguably his best performance in a Hibs jersey on a night of many good displays.

For the first time the fans were given a glimpse into the future under the new manager, they came up against a Hearts side who are the benchmark and matched them for 90 minutes.

In the interest of calling things honestly and as I see them, Hibs also got away with one as the Jambos should have been awarded a penalty and Lewis Stevenson should have been sent off.

My heart was in my mouth as soon as Ellis Simms raced through and Stevenson was caught on the wrong side. He bundled him over and was already on a yellow card and should have had a red.

The Hearts bench were rightly going bananas when referee Don Robertson waved play on.

It was a stonewall penalty kick, it happened around the 20 minute mark and would have been a game changing moment so I can see why Hearts are aggrieved but Hibs were good value for their point.

Much to chew over a coffee this morning, that's for sure.

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