Hibs 'not comfortable playing out from back' as solution suggested

Hibs are not comfortable playing out from the back and should consider going more direct in certain circumstances, says Scott Allan.

The Easter Road men played themselves into bother during their cup defeat to Celtic yesterday, the third goal of their 3-1 loss in particular as Marvin Ekpiteta played a hospital pass back to goalkeeper Josef Bursik who then had the ball robbed off him by Nicolas Kuhn.

They often looked to play their way out of defence like that and at times it played into the Hoops' hands as they pressed them and won the ball back high up the pitch. Former Hibee Allan is a technical player himself but still feels it may suit his old side to be more pragmatic at times.

He told Sportsound: “Hibs constantly are masters of their own downfall. Sometimes in a game maybe you look for your captain or the experienced players like Martin Boyle who have been here a long time to say 'listen, squeeze us up and play in Celtic's half and work off second balls.'

"It might not always be nice to watch but you are taking the danger away. The Hibs defence did not look comfortable playing out from the back the whole game.”