Patience needed as new boss Reedijk bemoans Hibs 'imprecision'

Dundee United v Hibernian

It had been a while since Marink Reedijk last tasted defeat in a league match, but one game into his reign as Hibernian manager, he was left in no doubt as to the scale of the task he has taken on.

After guiding SK Beveren to an unbeaten title in Belgium's second tier last season, a disappointing 1-0 loss at Dundee United was not the introduction to Scottish football the Dutchman was looking for.

Daniel Bennie bundled in the only goal of the game on 35 minutes for the hosts, and Hibs had to play the final stages with 10 men after on-loan Manchester United midfielder Jacob Devaney was dismissed for for denying Neil Farrugia a goalscoring opportunity.

"The most frustrating thing is that 2,500 people came all the way from Edinburgh and we were not able to give them what I hoped to do," Reedijk told BBC Scotland.

"That is what it is, but work to do here."

The new manager bounce did not materialise at Tannadice and although it is impossible to judge Reedijk after one game, the performance at Tannadice highlighted that many of Hibs' old problems remain, despite their new head coach.

Losing start for Reedijk as Dundee Utd beat Hibs

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Playing with a back four, unlike the back three preferred by Reedijk's predecessor David Gray, Hibs struggled in forward areas as they spurned several promising positions. It is the fourth game this season in which they have failed to score.

"If you summarise it, it's imprecision and indecisiveness towards the final third and in the final third," Reedijk said.

"We lose a few sloppy balls where they can counter attack us. Then the doubt starts into the team.

"We started off well, tried our best to create something. We created some bits and bobs but then these moments decide the match. Little moments, details in terms of defending, in terms of their goal, that is something we should and need to avoid."

The early signs were good as Hibs strung together some neat phases of play. One excellent move, with Callum Wright at the heart of it, almost brought the opening goal for Josh Mulligan.

New signing Rabbi Matondo brightened Hibs' attack for a spell in the second half, but United always looked capable of adding more goals given the space afforded to them by a ragged Hibs defensive line.

The hosts had 17 shots, with 10 of those inside the Hibernian box as they created an expected goals value of 1.68 across the 90 minutes.

The defeat leaves Hibs tenth in the Premiership table, but with a new manager trying to implement new ideas, a little patience may be required from the Easter Road faithful.

"It will take a bit of time because you're going from your threat being in a back three, the wing-backs get high and wide, the crosses and the blocks - it's more about being more industrious than really technically clever," said former Scotland international James McFadden on Sportscene.

"When you go to that 4-2-3-1, you're asking a lot of your wide players, you want to go and get beyond the back line, you want to play with speed and control.

"That takes time, you're having a shift from one style to the next. But I like the fact that he's disappointed that the players haven't been able to carry it out straight away. I don't mind that at all."

Despite their lowly league position, McFadden does not believe Hibs will be struggling near the bottom for long.

"Hibs won't be in trouble come the end of the season, absolutely not," he said.

"If David Gray was still in charge, they wouldn't be in trouble towards the end of the season, I've got no doubt. But when you're having that shift, it is going to take a bit of time.

"[Hibs fans] want to see a team that wins, and a team that wins well. That's tough to get, but that's why [Reedijk] has been brought in. Of course they do, but that's why the change has been made.

"You can see the demand that he's putting on them early. That sometimes can take a bit of time."