Scott On Hunter, Returnees & 'Pleasing' Performance
Grant Scott discussed 'legend' Siobhan Hunter, 'new signings' Rachael Boyle and Rosie Livingstone, and his side's 'pleasing' performance after beating Montrose 5-1 at Meadowbank Stadium.
The Hibs Women Head Coach oversaw his team, led out by Hunter on her 300th Hibernian appearance and supplemented on the bench by long-term absentees Boyle and Livingstone, shake off a shock leveller to earn all three points in EH7.
Kathleen McGovern's first half lob was nullified by Talitha Robb after the break, but four second half Hibs goals - Eilidh Adams' penalty, Livingstone's acrobatic finish, an own goal, and Lauren Doran-Barr's stoppage-time pearler - was enough to see the girls over the line despite the slight scare.
Scott granted Hunter the captain's armband on her landmark appearance and could not have spoke much highly of her when discussing the defender's character and quality following the match.
"She lives and breathes it," Scott told Hibs TV. "She knows the club inside out.
"Terms like ‘legend’ are used far too much these days but she has played so many games for the club, and has been exceptional over the years.
"A misunderstood character if I’m being honest. It’s just a privilege every day. We have had our moments, as all players and coaches do. She gives everything that you ask of her.
"She’s just one of the best people we could have in our squad. I’m delighted. It’s a great achievement for her."
Hunter donned the skipper's armband until the 75th minute, when Club captain Boyle entered the field of play. The midfielder had missed over 600 days - or 19 months - of action following a cruel ACL injury sustained in March 2023.
Boyle performed excellently for the quarter of an hour she played, effortlessly carrying the ball and picking out passes with ease. Joining Smally on the pitch was young forward Livingstone, who netted in fine fashion just minutes following her introduction after missing six months of action.
"It’s phenomenal for us as a coaching staff [to have both players back]," said Scott. "The medical staff have had to work wonders with them. There has been up and down days for both players.
"You saw the quality of both of them today in those fifteen minute spells. Energy and a goal for Rosie. Rachael just gives us that leadership quality on the pitch. There is a real calmness around the group when she’s on the ball.
"You can see Rachael's qualities there, I don’t think she gave the ball away at all. Her awareness of space and knowing where to be. It’s like two new signings. I’m absolutely delighted to have both available."
Scott witnessed his side stay focused and keep in line with the game plan despite the early second half equaliser, allowing Hibs to regain their lead and push on to a four-goal winning margin.
The Gaffer is well aware of previous occasions when an unexpected goal may have derailed or shaken his team, but he was 'pleased' that there was no such wobble versus Montrose.
"We took our time to get going. The most pleasing thing is that other games we’ve had when it’s been like that, we’ve defaulted to doing strange things.
"But we continued to keep moving the ball well today. I believed that if we kept doing the right things, it would come.
"That was my major takeaway. We prodded away and it’s just pleasing, as Montrose are a very difficult side to roll over."
Next up for Hibs is a trip across the capital to take on Spartans at Ainslie Park.
"I would expect something very similar [to Montrose]," Scott said, thinking ahead to the next game.
"The qualities Spartans have will be in their organisation, it’s always a little bit of a fight between the sides in the most positive sense possible with both teams trying to win.
"We’ll need to keep our discipline again, work hard and do the right things with the ball. If we are consistent, that will take us to the result we want."