McGregor Delighted With Winning Pre-Season Start

Darren McGregor was “absolutely delighted” to see a youthful Hibs Development Squad kick-off pre-season with a 3-2 away win over Haddington Athletic.

The East of Scotland Premier Division side twice equalised against the wee Hibees, but Zach Bruce’s second-half finish was enough to secure victory following first-half goals from Luke Davidson and Adam Buckley. 

Several players typically involved with the Dev Squad were unavailable due to their involvement in the First Team’s training camp in the Netherlands, resulting in a matchday squad at Millfield Park consisting of players across multiple age groups  – including a number of 15-year-olds.

“I thought it was really, really good,” Dev Squad head coach Darren McGregor told hibernianfc.co.uk. “I think we had three different age groups playing. 

“For the first game of pre-season, you know there’s going to be a bit of rustiness there. I told the lads to not get annoyed or frustrated when giving the ball away or taking a bad touch, it’s your reaction to that mistake that counts more than anything. And they showed that well. 

“The team that finished the game was really young, so to come away with a win against grown men and have multiple more opportunities to score is great. We missed a penalty and there were a couple of great saves from their goalkeeper, so I think that is all you look for. That endeavor, that attitude. 

“It’s tremendous, because we have a group of lads who have gone to the Netherlands with the First Team, that’s why we are here as an Academy, to give them the opportunity to go and get into that First Team. The next crop have proven tonight that they are good enough and able enough.”

The Hi-His proved strong opposition for the Hibees – quite literally, with Scott Bonar’s brawny outfit certainly bigger and stronger than our young lads on the pitch. 

This physical superiority did not phase the Dev Squad, however, with McGregor admitting his delight at how his team handled that battle. 

“I told them they needed to box clever against physical lads. For example, we’ve got Adam (Buckley), an absolute machine in his age group, so quick and so strong. He went up against a lad who is a wee bit quicker and stronger than him, so I asked him, how do you work that out? 

“You keep him in front of you and you allow other players to help you. These are things these lads will learn naturally in the game. 

“It is mentality a lot of the time. The technical stuff will catch the eye and get you in the door, but it’s your mentality that will keep you there. 

“If you have got 15-year-old lads going up against grown men and they are taking the bull by the horns, they’re brave with and without the ball, those are the players that we want and who have a great chance of progressing. 

“You need the ability and the mentality. Every single player on the pitch was a credit to themselves.”