New Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk endured a tough start to life in Scottish football as his side slipped to a 1-0 defeat away to Dundee United, a result that exposed familiar frailties despite the change in leadership at Easter Road.
The Dutchman, who arrived in Edinburgh on the back of an unbeaten title-winning campaign with SK Beveren in Belgium's second tier, watched his new charges fall behind in the 35th minute when Daniel Bennie forced the ball home for the only goal of the contest. Hibs' afternoon worsened late on when on-loan Manchester United midfielder Jacob Devaney was shown a red card for denying Neil Farrugia a clear goalscoring opportunity, leaving the visitors to see out the remainder of the match with ten men.
There was no instant lift for Hibs under their new boss, and the display at Tannadice suggested that many of the issues which plagued the club under previous management have yet to be resolved. Reedijk opted for a back four rather than the back three favored by his predecessor, David Gray, but his side struggled to convert pressure into clear-cut chances, extending their run to four matches this season without finding the net.
Speaking to BBC Scotland afterward, Reedijk expressed disappointment at not being able to reward the travelling support. "The most frustrating thing is that 2,500 people came all the way from Edinburgh and we were not able to give them what I hoped to do," he said. "That is what it is, but work to do here."
The manager was candid in his assessment of where his team fell short, pointing to a lack of composure in the final third. "If you summarise it, it's imprecision and indecisiveness towards the final third and in the final third," Reedijk explained. "We lose a few sloppy balls where they can counter attack us. Then the doubt starts into the team. We started off well, tried our best to create something. We created some bits and bobs but then these moments decide the match. Little moments, details in terms of defending, in terms of their goal, that is something we should and need to avoid."
Despite the result, there were promising passages of play from Hibs, particularly in the early stages when Callum Wright orchestrated a slick move that nearly teed up Josh Mulligan for the opener. Second-half substitute Rabbi Matondo also added some spark going forward. However, Dundee United remained the more threatening side throughout, racking up 17 shots—ten of which came from inside the Hibernian penalty area—and amassing an expected goals tally of 1.68 over the course of the match.
The loss leaves Hibs sitting tenth in the Scottish Premiership, a position that will raise some concern among supporters, though patience appears to be the watchword as Reedijk works to implement his tactical philosophy. Former Scotland international James McFadden, speaking on Sportscene, highlighted the scale of the adjustment required in shifting from a back three to a 4-2-3-1 setup. "It will take a bit of time because you're going from your threat being in a back three, the wing-backs get high and wide, the crosses and the blocks - it's more about being more industrious than really technically clever," McFadden said. "When you go to that 4-2-3-1, you're asking a lot of your wide players, you want to go and get beyond the back line, you want to play with speed and control. That takes time."
McFadden also expressed confidence that Hibs would not find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle come the end of the campaign, acknowledging the demands Reedijk is already placing on his squad as he looks to reshape the team's identity. "Hibs won't be in trouble come the end of the season, absolutely not," he insisted, while conceding that the transition period may test the patience of fans eager for immediate results.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.