New Hibernian boss Nick Montgomery insists there are plenty of positives to take despite watching his side throw away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
An unfortunate own-goal by goalkeeper Will Dennis handed the visitors the lead after eight minutes before Dylan Vente’s strike doubled Hibs’ lead.
It looked as if Montgomery’s reign at Easter Road was set to get off to the perfect start, but a half-hour capitulation saw them pegged back as Kilmarnock earned a dramatic point.
Kyle Vassell pulled one back from close-range just minutes after Vente notched his third goal of the season, before Joe Wright completed the turnaround as he headed home Danny Armstrong’s inside the six-yard box.
Montgomery said: “It’s obviously frustrating to go 2-0 up away from home and not win but I thought the boys played some really good stuff as it’s not an easy place to come.
“I thought we could have probably killed the game off in the first-half as we had some very good chances and their keeper pulled off some good saves and when we conceded the first one it gave them a bit of momentum.
“It’s disappointing not to take full points but credit to Kilmarnock as they showed real fight.
“It was a real team effort, including the boys that came off the bench, who looked very dangerous. We could look back at the end of the season and realise it was a good point but just now it’s a difficult one to take.
“It’s not been easy to cram everything in within the space of a week, but the boys have been very receptive. What I have learned is that there are great staff here and the squad is very strong.
“We’ve got competition for places all over the pitch and that’s what you need. They took a lot of information on board this week and I thought they were very brave, created some good stuff and were backed on by the fans who were outstanding today.
“I’m a little bit tired and have been jet-lagged for the first couple of days.
“Everybody has been very welcoming as have the players, fans, and staff as well.
“I’ve bumped into a lot of people while wandering around and have had people coming up and wishing me well. It’s now my job to give them all something back and get the team playing well.”
Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes felt his side should have defended better in the build-up to Hibernian’s second.
He said: “It’s quite a quiet dressing room down there to be honest and it feels like an opportunity missed.
“When you’re 2-0 down with so little time to go, the response was everything you want and what supporters want to see. Everybody gave that wee bit more and that’s what you call team spirit.
“I thought the second goal came against the run of play a wee bit as we started the second-half well and were a bit braver and tried to minimise the influence of (Martin) Boyle and (Elie) Youan as those boys don’t need any encouragement to influence a game.
“The second goal killed us, it was an absolutely ridiculous goal to lose from a throw-in. If we defended that situation better we could have won the game, but these players are everything that I want my team to be.
“I’m really pleased with how we finished the game and I think that’s always important.”
Haaland has 'full trust' in Guardiola to halt Man City slump
Erling Haaland has "full trust" in the "best manager in the world", Pep Guardiola, to get Manchester City back on track against Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday.
Guardiola's side have lost four matches in a row across all competitions, which is the Spaniard's longest losing run in his entire managerial career.
The Citizens last lost more consecutively between March and April 2006 under Stuart Pearce (six – the fifth game of which was also against Tottenham).
But after putting pen to paper on a new two-year contract extension at the club earlier this week, Guardiola has his eyes firmly set on returning to winning ways on home soil.
And Haaland, who has scored 105 goals in 114 appearances under Guardiola at City, believes they can make up the gap to leaders Liverpool, who are five points ahead.
"When you look at what he's been doing for the club, he's not bad, is he? So he's got my full trust," Haaland told Sky Sports.
"And if he tells me something, I'd better do it because he knows the best in the end. Everyone knows that. So I'm sure he will find solutions now as well. I'm sure of that.
"[Guardiola] demands us to be at our best in every training session, in every game. And that's what we need to do. It hasn't been good enough, losing four games now, but let's try to win the next."
Arsenal handed another injury blow as White ruled out for 'months'
Mikel Arteta confirmed that Arsenal defender Ben White is facing "months" on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury.
White had been dealing with several issues all season and has missed five games in all competitions for the Gunners already this term.
After struggling through until the November international break, the decision was taken for him to undergo surgery in order to finally address the ongoing problems.
It serves as a bitter blow for Arteta, with only Thomas Parety (13) making more interceptions than White (11) for Arsenal in the Premier League this campaign.
Though Arteta confirmed that the surgery was successful, White is set for a lengthy spell out of the team.
"It has been different kinds of struggles. It has never been the same thing, but we had to make a decision. He has not improved over the last few weeks, unfortunately," said Arteta.
"We know that Ben is going to push every boundary, but it got to the point where we have to protect the player and we decided to do the surgery.
"He agreed with that and it is going to keep him out for a few months."
Asked for a specific time frame, Arteta added: "We have to see how he reacts post-surgery. I don't expect it to be half a year, but I cannot tell you exactly."
It offers a concern for Arteta in the full-back area, with the Spaniard also revealing on Friday that Takehiro Tomiyasu is "going to be out as well for a bit".
There was, however, some positive injury news for the Gunners ahead of welcoming Nottingham Forest to the Emirates on Saturday.
After not featuring for England during the international break, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are expected to be fit to feature against Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
Leandro Trossard will also be available for Arteta despite picking up a hamstring injury during the international break with Belgium.
Defender Riccardo Calafiori is also in contention for Saturday's game after a month out with a knee problem.
Conte hopes for Ranieri's success at Roma after Napoli clash
Antonio Conte hopes that everything will go well for Claudio Ranieri after he came out of retirement to take charge of Roma, but only after their Serie A clash this weekend.
Ranieri was tempted back into management by a return to where he began as a player. His third spell at Roma comes after the club sacked two coaches already this season and with the team 12th in the standings.
A trip to leaders Napoli is Ranieri's first task, and Conte is looking forward to meeting up with the 73-year-old.
"I am pleased to see Claudio, I have great esteem for him and there is also friendship," Conte told reporters ahead of Sunday's game.
"I am happy with the chance he has been given. It will be a tough game, for us and for them. Last year, Roma finished ahead of Napoli, they are in the Europa League and had a good transfer window.
"They are not performing according to expectations and I hope for Claudio that everything starts to work after Sunday's game."
The arrival of Ranieri in place of Ivan Juric brings with it not just the danger of the 'new manager bounce' but also upsets Conte's plans for the game.
"When a team changes coach there is an important input on a nervous level," Conte said.
"They are at the third change on the bench. It's inevitable that, if Juric had remained, we knew what kind of team we were going to face.
"Now it's an enigma, we don't have much information nor do we know how they will deal with us. So let's think about ourselves, there is a desire and enthusiasm to continue this path."
After a streak of 21 consecutive home wins in Serie A, Conte lost his last home league match (0-3 against Atalanta). Only once in his career has he recorded two consecutive home defeats in the competition: in November 2009, when he was in charge of Atalanta (against Juventus and Roma).
Napoli are top of the table, but Conte knows it is still early, and with just two points separating the top six clubs, which includes the likes of Atalanta, Fiorentina and Lazio, for now, it is a different title race than usual.
"Only 12 games have passed and there are many teams within very few points," he said.
"We are doing well, but so are the others. There isn't one team which has distanced the others. Perhaps there is a little amazement in seeing some teams in those positions in the standings."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
