Thursday October 22nd 2026
Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Adam Bowen
Hibs lost 2-1 to Falkirk last weekend but Reedijk felt that the performance was much better compared to the previous week against Dundee United.
I noticed a change in approach over the 2 halves by Reedijk’s side. The first half, there seemed to be a struggle going forward, Hibs were able to get to the halfway line just fine, but as soon as they got there, there seemed to be a lack of idea and a lack of options for players like Passlack to play the ball into. Therefore, the ball kept going backwards.
In the second half however Hibs were flying forward, constantly finding the ball into Falkirk’s half and creating numerous good chances.
I asked Reedijk about this in the post-match press conference, saying that there seemed to be quite a contrast in attacking prominence in the second half and whether he had changed anything tactically at half time.
Reedijk replied that he didn’t believe it was the whole of the first half, but he did agree that definitely in the first period of the match, there was a struggle to get into the opponent’s half.
He went on to answer my question further, “Then, after that, we had some momentum where we got better and forward. The goals don’t help after that.
“Then we had momentum again. We scored a goal, come back in, and what we wanted to do is we wanted to play a little bit too much in my opinion.
“Sometimes you need to clip it in behind. This variation, we found better. And if, in order to clip it in behind, you need also runners in behind. So this was the focus point, combined with switching the play in order to make sure that they have to move, move, move, and then you come through, because Falkirk was in a low block for the majority of the match.
“And this is not easy to play against, but they can do it, because they are in the match. And this is what we need to avoid, because then they cannot do this so easily.”
As you can see above, Reedijk explained there that there was a change in approach, he admitted at times that his team overplayed the ball and that the clipped ball in behind was working better.
If you noticed a change watching the game in attacking phase within the halves, then that was why. Hibs started focussing on switching play with a bit more intent forcing the Falkirk players to move which allowed the clipped ball in behind the Falkirk midfield, as it forces the opposition players to be out of position. This is what allowed Hibs to get the ball into the attacking third quicker and more consistently.
Although, as Reedijk said, it is hard to play against a low block, however interestingly he implied above that it is up to Hibs to not concede the goals, as that was the reason why Falkirk could set up like that, as they had the upper hand.
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