How referee did Hibs a favour with Joe Newell red card as ‘shambles’ assessed

Ten-man Hibs would have hoped to hang on for three points even after captain Joe Newell’s red card against Dundee United yesterday.

 

 

But they capitulated to concede two stoppage time goals, including a 99th-minute winner for Meshack Ubochioma and which leaves the Hibees bottom of the table.

It was a third straight defeat for David Gray’s side and the manager has just one league victory under his belt since his summer appointment, a home win over St Johnstone.

Fans are frustrated with how things are going and the manner of Saturday’s loss will only serve to heighten that.

Hibs have been urged to stick with Gray but next weekend’s derby against Hearts could be make or break.

Boyd brands Hibs ‘shambles’ but Gray not to blame

Kris Boyd views the Easter Road side as a “shambles” right now but he doesn’t lay the blame at the manager’s door.

After watching Newell leave his side with ten men to see the game out and then goalkeeper Josef Bursik making an error for the Dundee United winner, the former Kilmarnock striker says players have to start stepping up the plate.

 

He told Sky Sports: “Any time you speak about Hibs it always seems to be negative at the moment. You look at Hibs right now and we’re in October and next week we’ve got an Edinburgh derby with the bottom two.

 

“90-odd minutes you lose the equaliser and you’re thinking to yourself ‘right, just hold on and take the point.’

“But the goalkeeper, I mean I don’t know what he’s doing here. Even to adjust and get back on his line, he doesn’t need to go and get it. He just makes an absolute mess of it.

 

“I know David Gray is a club legend…it doesn’t always need to be the manager’s fault. Some of the players need to take responsibility as well because whatever is going on over there is a shambles.

 

“We’re now in October. Hearts have had their worst start to a season in I don’t know how long and Hibs are below them.”

 

Referee did Hibs a ‘favour’ with Joe Newell red card

Newell’s 85th-minute red card came about through two bookings.

 

The second one was for a dangerous tackle on Luca Stephenson as the midfielder lunged in to try and compensate for a loose touch that saw him lose control. He caught the Liverpool loanee with a sore one.

 

The tackle was checked by VAR for a potential straight but it was only given as a second yellow. Boyd thinks Newell got a way with one.

 

He added: “And, by the way, the referee has done Hibs a favour there because that’s a straight red. And obviously it’s two yellow cards and he’ll only miss one match now. That’s a straight red, he takes a poor touch and goes over the ball. That could’ve been a leg-breaker.

 

As Chris Sutton asked why the player was complaining about the decision, Boyd added: “I don’t know, as I said it’s a straight red for me. And he’s very luck he’ll only miss one match now.”

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