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Bob Shankly’s Page
I can imagine the disappointment of the fans at last week’s defeat by Morton,
for I know how I felt with that result following our victory over Naples.
But that’s football all over and no game can be taken for granted. Not that
the Hibs players thought they were on a good thing.
They knew Morton would provide tough opposition and put enough effort
into the game to win it twice over. But we missed a few chances and couldn’t
break down Morion’s defensive barrier. It was definitely reaction after the Fairs
Cup tie.
Perhaps if Hibs had scored one goal, the game would have gone our way, but
the points are lost and we don’t want any more slips of that nature.
I took the chance on Wednesday to watch Leeds qualify to meet us
in the third round of the Fairs Cup, and .two hard ties await us. Leeds beat
Partizan Belgrade 3-2 on aggregate.
The dates for the third round are now fixed as 20th December at Elland Road
and 10th January at Easter Road.
But our immediate concern is to collect a win over Clyde, something we didn’t
manage in League football last season. However, Hibs won both League Cup
ties at the start of the season, and I’m hoping for another win.
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HIBS TRIO HONOURED
For the first time in Under 23 international matches, Hibs may have three representatives
in the side, when Scotland meet Wales at Pittodrie on Wednesday.
Congratulations are in order for Pat Stanton, who will skipper the team again, Peter
Cormack and Colin Stein on being included in the provisional pool of 15 players. Now we
hope all three are chosen.
Stanton and Cormack are “old hands” at this Under 2S business, but it is a tribute to
the remarkable improvement o( Stein that he has won recognition already.
» » »
Colin Stein and lan Wilkinson will appear before the S.F.A. Referee Committee on December 18 and not on January 8 as was first thought.
The meeting lias been brought forward due to the large amount of business to be conducted,
and both boys will be looking for leniency to allow tlicm to play over the Christmas period.
lan was sent off in a reserve game at Aberdeen, and Colin suffered the same treatment against
Rangers at Ibrox.
« * *
December 6 was supposed to be the last date for completing second round ties in the Second
XI Cup, but Dundee and Hibs were allowed an extension until today, because both clubs wers
free.
So the colts are on duty at Dens Park, having had a bye in the first round of the competition.
What an appropriate place for Alan Cousin to have his first full game following his cartilage
operation. His knee has given him absolutely no trouble recently and the signs are that the
schoolteacher will soon be bidding for that top team place again.
* * *
Hibs have failed to score in their last two League games, but that nap-hand against Naples
carried them over the half century for the season.
The total is !>’! goals and the breakdown is as follows: League Cup 9; Scottish League SO;
Fairs Cup 10; other matches 4.
Eleven players have shmcd (lie goals wilh Colin Stein out in front. He has 15 and Peter
Cormack is tlie other player with double figures (11).
)oc Davis lias six to pip his travelling fni))p:ininn, I’.il Qiiinn (5) for third place.
Isn’t it time John Madsen broke his duck as ;i m.irksinan? All his (ellow defenders have
scored this season.
• * *
Hibs fans have given the team tremendous encouragement in the last two home games and
the constant roaring is a real spur despite the fact that Hibs were edged out 1-0 by Morton last
Saturday.
It was a freak goal, the sort you might see once in a season, which gave the Greenock men
(lie points. Hibs had all the pressure—and nothing to show for it.
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OUR VISITORS
Clyde take a little longer than most teams to get into their stride for the simple reason tliat they arc part-time players. By the lime
ilie League Cup qualifying matches are over, the Shawfield boys are all set to make a real show in the championship and that is how it is proving again this term. Clyde were third last season, when they managed to win as many games away as at home, and 20 altogether. At the moment, they have eight wins to their credit and their victories are equally divided in and out of Shawfield.
Last week they went to Perth to take two points off St. Johnstone and that gave them six points from their’last four matches, including wins over Dundee and Stirling Albion. Their only reverse in a month was sustained in a game against Morion.
– Earlier in the season they scored away
• victories against Aberdeen and Hearts and i those are very useful points to have tucked (away. Clyde, of course, should have qualified tor the Fairs Cup, but they were excluded from the competition on the grounds lhat llie rules permit only one club from each cily and Rangers were in before them. Nevertheless, Clyde will keep pegging away this season in the hope that Celtic and
Rangers will be involved in the other, two European events and leave them free to represent Glasgow in the popular tournament. Since Clyde were here in August, manager Archie Wright has been involved in two transfer deals—one arrival and one departure. The man who left the Rutherglen club was centre forward Joe Gilroy, who was sold to Fulham. The physical training instructor, who signed from Montrose, was very keen to find a new club and almost signed up with an American outfit in the summer. Manager Wright’s other deal was the signing of utility man Pat Delaney from Duniermline. Delaney, who won Under-23 recognition at Motherwell, played at right back last week, but he can play in the mid-line (preferably centre half) or at centre forward. Now another versatile Clyde player say» he wants to leave so that he can settle down in one position. That’s the view of Dick Staite
who, despite scoring both goals against St. Johnstone, reckons he is not a centre forward but a centre half, the position he occupied with Partick Thistle. Inside forward Harry Hood is the most talented player in the side. He in;idc his mark with Clyde as a teenager and then returned to them after a spell with Sunderland. He has the ability to make the whole forward line tick and thai means trouble tor the opposition with Graham MacFarlane, lan Stewart and Sam Hastings ready to co-operate to the full.
Stewart is a powerful player with a tremendous shot. He belongs to Aberdeen, but was transferred from East Fife to his present club. John Wright has established himself as Clyde’s No. 1 goalkeeper after four years at .Shawfield. Dave Soutar, ex-Arbroath, is the regular left back and another former Gayfield “tind”, Jim Eraser, is at centre half. Scan Anderson a strong, forceful right half
from Hamilton, flanks Fraser on one side with Dennisioun product, John McHugh, at left half. Clyde have a workmanlike side and now they are one point behind Hibs in the table; Their aim is to repeat last season’s performance of finishing third.
COVER PICTURE
It’s Hibs’ fifth and final goal against Naples
in the Fairs Cup tie here. Colin Stein picks
his spot carefully to give goalkeeper Zoff no
chance.
Evening New Picture.
