Hibernian

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Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk: "The summary is individual mistakes. They scored two goals from our individual mistakes. We scored a good goal ourselves and had moments to score again but didn't. The game changes if you do so because then Easter Road is behind us but this didn't happen."

"What I have seen today is a step forward compared to Dundee [United]. That sounds strange but that is really what I think. We took control of the whole match and had some good opportunities but then we have to score these.

"I think we controlled the match more. I think we dominated the opponent and dictated what happened. You can't afford these little mistakes individually. Therefore [Falkirk] come into the match. Yet we keep on stepping forward, we keep on showing that we are brave. We come back into the match at 2-1. If you have 20 shots and seven on target, Falkirk can sit in and block a lot of those balls. So it's a combination of how the matches go and individual decision making in the last third.

"I hate it [Hibs being bottom of the league]. It's something I don't want. I also think that based on the match today, we don't deserve it. But it's a fact and it's up to us to continue what we do, unpack the things we need to really work on and make sure that these little mistakes don't happen and that we create momentum in our matches more for ourselves.

"We need to work hard, stick to the things we do, develop the things we do; make sure that we make fewer and fewer mistakes and make sure that we take our chances. I leave very disappointed with a strange feeling in my stomach because I think the guys worked their guts out. I think we deserved more however we didn't get more. I'm therefore positive but with a sick feeling in my stomach."

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Hibernian welcome back Adam Mayor and Jamie McGrath, but Callum Wright, Nathan Lowe and Jacob Devaney, who is suspended in any case, have all picked up injuries and join Kanayo Megwa (thigh), Rocky Bushiri (Achilles) and Jordan Obita (calf) on the sidelines.

Falkirk are set to be without Aodhan Doherty (foot), Joe Gardner (thigh), Keelan Adams and Ethan Laidlaw (both ankle).

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Josh Mulligan admits he has struggled to find his best form as Hibernian's early-season run of poor form continues.

The 23-year-old was one of the standout players in the Scottish Premiership in the first half of last season, earning him a Scotland call-up a year ago, before an ankle injury halted his progress in January.

After returning to Easter Road at the end of last season, the 23-year-old has started all 16 of Hibs' competitive matches this season but has found it tough to get back last season's levels.

"It's been a bit up and down," the former Dundee player said of his own form.

"I've not been nearly consistent enough, and I think that's a reflection of how we've been playing as a team as well, just not good enough.

"It's frustrating, but you need to keep going. I've always got that belief in myself and I think once the team starts really clicking, the performances will come."

Hibernian are 10th in the Premiership after winning just two of their eight league games so far, and they were unable to enjoy a new manager bounce as they went down 2-1 to Dundee United last weekend in Marink Reedijk's first game since succeeding David Gray.

Mulligan is optimistic, however, that the new manager's philosophy will come good, but conceded their form since the summer has been tough for the players to deal with.

"It's been frustrating," he added.

"The confidence is low, you can see it in the games.

"Everyone is buying into what the new gaffer wants, and I really believe if we do what he's asking us to do, the results and the performances will come.

"But it's been tough and frustrating. You don't want to be losing every week, so we just need to try and get a good performance tomorrow and get ourselves up the table."

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Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk is keen to block out any external noise before Falkirk's visit on Saturday afternoon.

Bairns cournterpart John McGlynn suggested on Thursday that his team could capitalise on the sense that all was "not rosy in the garden" at Easter Road and try to ensure their fans are "not happy" again this weekend.

In Reedijk's first game as Hibs boss, his side suffered a 1-0 defeat by Dundee United, extending their winless run to five Premiership games.

At full-time, some supporters from the away end clashed with police, leading to Hibs announcing the ban of their Block Seven Ultras group from their next three matches.

"They can say whatever they want," Reedijk said. "For me, it's important that we do our job and focus on the things we have to do.

"Then let's see if he's right or not, because I think then it will turn against them."

Despite their loss at Tannadice, Reedijk is adamant Hibs "are in a good way" and added that he was "buzzing" for his first game at Easter Road.

The Dutchman revealed that wing-back Adam Mayor and midfielder Jamie McGrath are back in contention, but Nathan Lowe, Jacob Devaney and Callum Wright have all sustained injuries.

"On Callum, I cannot say yet because it happened late in the week," Reedijk added.

"Nathan and Jacob are mid-term I think, around a few weeks."

• Excluding own goals, Hibernian have eight goals from 131 shots and Falkirk have five goals from 92 shots in the Scottish Premiership this season. Their shot conversion rates of 6.1% and 5.4% respectively are two of the bottom three in the division this term (Kilmarnock the other with 6.1%).

• Falkirk are the only side without an away win in the Scottish Premiership this season, drawing three and losing one of four outings.

• Hibernian are without a clean sheet in 14 league games, their longest run in the Scottish Premiership since going 15 games without a shutout from August to December 2019.

• Falkirk are winless in six top-flight visits to Hibernian (D2 L4) since a 1-0 victory in September 2006.

• Hibernian have only lost one of their last 14 top-flight meetings with Falkirk (W8 D5), a 4-1 away defeat in January last season.

Beveren technical director Bob Peeters believes new Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk will bring success to Easter Road, just as the 34-year-old did with the Belgian club despite a disappointing first season there. (Daily Record, external)

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

We didn't get the start we hoped for as Marink Reedijk took charge for the first time on Saturday.

A good opening 15 minutes gave some hope before old habits crept into the team and we struggled to create chances.

These are inherited issues for Reedijk, and we should know that it'll take more than the two weeks he's had with the team to put them to bed.

A "pre-season on steroids", as the head coach described it, can only take you so far, and by Reedijk's own admission there's a lot of work still to do.

The team looked disjointed and this again maybe shouldn't have been a surprise given we started with a new centre-half pairing and a refreshed front four.

With Falkirk up next, Reedijk's priority will most likely be finding a way to improve his side's potency in the final third. He lamented wasted passes, too many touches, and poor decisions when reflecting on Saturday's game.

I'm sure Gray would sympathise as these were issues he called out all too many times post-match during his tenure.

Solving that problem will be a huge step towards to a successful season.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

Andy Burke is joined by Hibernian Women head coach Joelle Murray and Scotsman sports editor Mark Atkinson to assess the contrasting fortunes of Edinburgh's two biggest clubs.

An early change of manager, a poor summer of recruitment and strife between fans and the Easter Road hierarchy, can Marink Reedijk turn it round?

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Hibernian say they will "take appropriate action as necessary" after they "establish the full circumstances" surrounding the scenes that unfolded in the away end following their weekend defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice.

Pictures showed some visiting fans clashing with police and stewards after head coach Marink Reedijk's first match in charge.

The Leith club say they are aware of the incidents and are investigating the events "in collaboration with other supporters" who attended the Scottish Premiership match, as well as with the police and Dundee United.

"The safety, wellbeing and matchday experience of our supporters is extremely important to us," they add.

"We will provide a further update this week prior to our upcoming match against Falkirk at Easter Road."

Watch the Sportscene panel analyse new boss Marink Reedijk's first game as Hibs manager. Available to UK users only.

Dundee United inflict a debut defeat on new Hibs boss Marink Reedijk thanks to Daniel Bennie's first-half goal. (Available to UK users only)

Hibs fans, we asked you for your thoughts on the 1-0 loss to Dundee United in Marink Reedijk's first game in charge.

Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Martin: Started brightly and if Josh Mulligan scores his gilt-edged chance, things could go differently but after that we huffed and puffed without much quality in the final third. Reedijk has a huge job on his hands as, contrary to belief in the media, this is a poor squad with no decent strikers, no midfielder that can open up a team, and we also have very static defenders.

Bill: Please, national press, stop saying Hibs have a strong squad. We have the weakest, poorest players since before we won the Scottish Cup. Not a new manager wanted, just some quality players, fit for top six. We are facing a trouncing in upcoming semi. Please don't embarrass us supporters yet again.

Jason: Aye, David Gray was the problem! Serious change is needed from top to bottom at the club.

Ringo: I really didn't see much improvement under the new manager, but the players have to take some responsibility. They just ain't good enough. Reedijk will need his own players. Whoever's been signing players for Hibs needs to take a good hard look at himself, it's simply not good enough. The new manager will need time but with these players, who knows.

Ross: Those Hibs players should be ashamed of themselves. There was 2,500 away fans, a new manager - and that's how they turn up and perform. Really? I'm so fed up of being a Hibs supporter, I really am.

Gordon: Another woeful performance, displaying yet again that the blame should not have lain solely at the feet of David Gray, but with this totally inept group of so-called players. Yet again, no goalscoring threat and another poor, amateurish goal conceded. Potentially the worst Hibs team I have seen and I am in my sixties.

George: Hibs were, quite simply, terrible after the first 15 minutes. Three good chances in that period, all missed or blocked. Then, for unknown reasons, we stopped playing. At times in the second half we opened them up but our final ball was too often poor, including numerous misplaced passes.

Marink Reedijk's first game as Hibernian manager ended in a Scottish Premiership defeat as his side went down to Dundee United at Tannadice.

Read the match report here.

Give us your thoughts here

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Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk tells BBC Scotland: "If you summarise it, it's imprecision and indecisiveness towards the final third in the final third, I think that's key.

"We lose a few times sloppy balls where they can counter attack us, but these are just normal balls we normally give in the right direction, in the right pace, at the right player. 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. Then also little moments, details in terms of defending, in terms of their goal, that is something we should and need to avoid.

"For me, the referees are the boss and if he decides to do this [red card for Jacob Devaney], then that is his decision. I have to focus on Hibernian at the moment and not on the referee decisions.

"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.

"That is what it is, but work to do here."

Former Hibernian forward Derek Riordan urges patience as new manager Marink Reedijk takes charge at Easter Road. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Dundee United have no fresh injury concerns but will continue to be without Mehdi Merghem and Emmanuel Agyei.

New Hibs boss Marink Reedijk could include new winger Rabbi Matondo, while Marko Ivezic is also in contention for a belated debut.

Adam Mayor, Jamie McGrath (calf), Kanayo Megwa (thigh), Rocky Bushiri (Achilles) and Jordan Obita (calf) are all set to miss out.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Marink Reedijk has been speaking to the media before his first game in charge of Hibs, away to Dundee United on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the key points:

• Reedijk is "excited" to finally take charge of his first Hibs game and describes the club as "special".

• He had "a lot of conversations" with other clubs after leaving Beveren in the summer but was delighted to land the Hibs job.

• After a lengthy meeting with the board in London - "one of the best conversations I've had throughout my whole career" - the Dutchman was convinced Easter Road was the right place for him.

• Reedijk described his time since taking over, including a training camp in La Manga, as "very intense" and says he and the squad got through more work "than I thought was possible", adding: "The pre-season on steroids now is over."

• The 34-year-old stressed the importance of unity at the club: "Since I first entered the building it feels like a family. A key pillar for me is we become even more of a family and do things together, that everybody feels involved and has the identity and carries the identity on and off the pitch."

• Reedijk believes Scottish football is "underestimated" and is a great challenge because all teams can beat each other.

• He says only "winning games" will help him be a success and is determined to begin his tenure with victory at Tannadice.

• He adds: "Even if I play against my cousin of five years old, Monopoly or something like this, I want to win. This is a little bit not good behaviour sometimes towards this but in football it's handy to have."