McDiarmid Park is the kind of football venue one could only pretend to adore if they were a ground hopper with a complete obsession. It hasn’t always been a place where Hibs supporters may celebrate without restraint. It also deserves to be remembered as the location where their team’s season ended in this campaign of disintegrating form and frantic late concessions.
Are you courageous enough to rewatch their last match there as Nick Montgomery’s team gets ready for another exciting journey to Perth, knowing full well that Craig Levein’s St Johnstone will be nothing if not fired up by a chance to inflict agony on the visitors? Supporters who are prone to flashbacks from traumatic experiences should turn away now.
For as everyone who witnessed the afternoon of December 16, 2023 will recall, Hibs’ 1-0 loss that could have been much, much worse cost them more than just three points. Do you need a list?
Their one-point advantage over local rivals Hearts was the first to slip, in order of significance. It’s astonishing to imagine that Hibs entered the match against St Johnstone two spots ahead of the Jambos, given the difference between the teams currently occupying third and seventh place, respectively. The last time Monty’s team experienced leading their closest neighbors was prior to kickoff at McDiarmid. As a result of finishing Best of the Rest, they have since assured themselves European group stage football next season.
The chance to exert pressure in the hunt for that crucial third position was also squandered in Perth. Hibs was a little bit behind schedule in the morning. If they had triumphed, they would have secured third place, even if Hearts had triumphed 2-0 at Celtic Park that same afternoon. They were never able to establish themselves as real contenders for the top consolation award in Scottish football.
And the reason for that is because on a dismal and agonizing day in McDiarmid, they might have lost the most crucial attribute of all. After winning four of their previous five league games, they had a lot of momentum going into the contest, but one awful afternoon broke it all.
It would seem that Hibs were never going to be resilient enough to stay at the top of the league for very long once Montgomery’s newfound confidence faded, if one poor performance could throw them into a tailspin. After Lee Johnson left in September, Monty was appointed, and at the time, he was likely doing better than his squad deserved.
Because of the disastrous collapse that ensued, the Scottish Premiership saw EIGHT games without a win after the team’s defeat to St Johnstone. By the time that awful run of play was over, they had dropped to eighth position in the standings, fourteen points behind Hearts in third and even ten behind fourth.
Their seven-game league winning streak was respectable, but they needed more victories to secure a spot in the top six. Furthermore, it is evident from Hibs’ three Premiership victories in 2024—over Ross County, Livingston, and Dundee—that they are not able to compete with above-average teams.
As Montgomery tries to establish his worth as Hibs’ manager, we examine the five pivotal performances that led to their unwelcome inclusion in what is officially referred to, on most fixture lists, as the SPFL Scottish Premiership Relegation Group. The first of these starts with that away loss to St Johnstone, who have the distinction of appearing twice in this list:
1. St Johnstone 1-0 Hibs – September 16, Saturday
The day the decay began. A terrible effort that, if not for David Marshall’s heroics, may have ended in a crushing defeat. The sole goal, which came about as a result of Dylan Levitt passing the ball directly to goal scorer Graham Carey, encapsulated the predicament of a team that frequently shoots itself in the foot.
2. Hibs, Wednesday, December 27, 0–1 Hearts
Really unfortunate. It’s unfortunate that Lawrence Shankland, who played such a pivotal part in this game, isn’t an excellent striker. Hibs, however, trailed their city rivals by eight points following their loss in the penultimate game prior to the winter vacation.
3. St. Mirren 3, Hibs 0 – Saturday, February 3.
How should I start? The home squad, who had displayed all the defensive resolve and skill of a schoolboy team playing on their first 11-a-side pitch, was three down at the break. The goals given up were terrible. Naturally, set pieces. As awful as any manager Hibs supporters had had in recent years
4. Ross County vs. Hibs, March 13, Wednesday
A goal that encapsulated both the terrible luck of a Hibs club plagued by absurd decisions made by the referees, in this case a throw-in given to the wrong team after all seven minutes of injury time had passed, and a fundamental incapacity to defend. Guys, it’s a throw-in. Take care of it. Kick the ball out of the air. Organize yourselves. Prevent giving up another late equalizer.