Hibernian

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From his working relationships with John 'Yogi' Hughes and Mixu Paatelainen, to how his Easter Road move almost never happened, former centre-back Sol Bamba talks Hibs, management and moving from Paris to Dunfermline on the latest Sacked in the Morning.

Just click here to listen to the ex-Ivory Coast defender's chat with Amy Irons and Craig Levein - and don't forget to subscribe.

• Read more: Bamba keen to follow mentors into management

When Nick Montgomery arrived at Easter Road at the end of September, there was much optimism within the club about the remainder of the season.

But after 33 matches and a record of 11 wins, 11 draws and 11 defeats, that optimism is now receding on a weekly basis.

To be fair to Montgomery, he has only had the one transfer window to work in and also had to play numerous games after the winter break with key players away on international duty or missing through injury.

The acquisitions of Emiliano Marcondes and Myziane Maolida in January were shrewd and both have perhaps performed above expectations.

But these are loan players who are unlikely to return for next season, and to create a long-term vision it’s surely now time to reduce the number of loans and begin building a squad that can be together for a number of years.

Key areas like centre-back and centre-forward are a priority.

But first and foremost, nothing less than a win at Fir Park on Saturday will suffice for a place in the top six, while hoping results elsewhere go their way.

Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery "has big plans moving forward" and is "confident in where I can take the club". (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

A chorus of boos serenaded Nick Montgomery as he and his players trudged off the Easter Road pitch on Saturday following a 1-2 defeat to St Johnstone in what was really a must-win game in our top-six hunt.

As it happens, Motherwell’s late winner in Dundee means that Hibs can take the fight right to the wire, so long as Dundee take nothing from their re-arranged tie against Rangers on Wednesday.

Hibs scarcely deserved the reprieve though. In a game that needed urgency and intensity, we only got hesitancy. The game was littered with Hibs errors and it took until the second half before the St Johnstone keeper was seriously troubled.

There were muted boos at half-time, but the most vehement ones were saved for full-time, by which point Hibs had been undone by the simplest of goals.

A long ball into the channel sent Saints’ Adama Sidibeh scampering away from Rocky Bushiri and the forward rolled the ball past David Marshall for their first.

The winner was just as basic, a sliced clearance from Jordan Obita handed St Johnstone a corner, from which Tony Gallacher had time to turn and slot home.

The performance shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but somehow it did. I felt Hibs had left these performances in the past, but despite the talent brought into the club in January, the same old failings reared their head again.

Montgomery’s position in charge surely now hinges on the success or otherwise of next weekend’s crunch match with Motherwell. Hibs need favours from Aberdeen and Rangers when they each play Dundee, so even a win next week may see us fall short.

It is an intolerable state of affairs. This is an expensive Hibs side and expectations are justifiably higher than a bottom-six finish. The booing at full time was a clear indicator that the support won’t stand for it.

Matty Fairnie can be found on the Longbangers podcast, external.

On today's episode of the Scottish Football Podcast, Liam McLeod is joined by Kenny Miller and Alan Stubbs.

They discuss Sunday's Old Firm thriller and look back on an action-packed Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

Listen to the episode in full here.

The Sportscene team debate whether Hibs should have had a penalty after St Johnstone goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov crashed into Emiliano Marcondes.

(Available to UK users only)

We asked for your thoughts as Hibs' top-six hopes hang by a thread after defeat to St Johnstone.

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

John: I hate to say this but, Nick Montgomery has to go. If he speaks to the players the way he addresses the media, it’s no wonder they are not performing. They are comatose!

Colin: We're in the bottom six because of our defensive and mental frailties. We knew what we needed to do today and failed miserably. We only stepped up the tempo when we conceded a goal. We need quality defenders and mentally strong players urgently.

Bill: Nine wins in 32 games. Terrible VAR decisions aside, that tells a story. He hasn't delvered many if any big results. Poor stuff nearly all season.

Steven: I was at the game - no fight, no passion, no clue. Please don't say we had 72% possession because 70% of it was in our half, going across the back and back to the keeper. Montgomery, to say you understand the frustration - no you don't. You get paid to watch that rubbish, we as fans pay £400 a season to watch the rubbish tactics you play every week.

Gordon: Manager just not good enough. Hibs have a stronger squad than all teams above us bar the top three. But all of those teams have a better manager than us. The complete inability of this board to employ a decent manager has let us down for years. We haven't had a manager worth his salt since Lennon. The owners and board have to take the flak here.

Kenny: Montgomery has to go. Another poor performance. I had to leave before the end as I couldn’t watch anymore. Bring in Neil Lennon now, We can’t give the present manager any more time or money. We are too big a club to be in the position we’re in.

Allan: Bad day at the office for Hibs. Controlled the game apart from their two shots on goal. We seem intent on scoring from inside the box but the weather today was asking for early shots when in decent positions outside the box. Although it’ll feel raw & some may disagree, Monty is the man to take the club forward & build a team that’ll become consistent.

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• St Johnstone have scored in their last five games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Hibernian have scored in their last nine games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Tony Gallacher scored his first goal in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Hibernian have scored seven goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (13) and Hearts (8) have scored more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Graham Carey has assisted his seventh goal this season, more than any other St Johnstone player in the Scottish Premiership.

Were you at Easter Road on Saturday or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

Hibernian boss Nick Montgomery

"It was a game of football in difficult conditions where we had 72% possession and we conceded two shots on target and two goals, I think that tells a story.

"We weren't good enough in both boxes and it's two moments, two lapses of concentration. It can be a cruel game, it was cruel today but we can't give away goals like we did.

"We had to be patient and I thought we were but we have to concentrate for the full game and to concede the goals the way we did was a real kick in the teeth. The only positive we can take out of today is that results may go for us elsewhere and we still have a chance in the top six.

"I think we should have had a penalty, I think Emi [Marcondes] gets punched by a goalkeeper. We have had a lot of tough calls against us but we can't use that as excuses.

"I see progress. I have seen progression on and off the field, a lot of players making debuts, new players coming in. I know where I can take this club moving forward.

"Today was a setback because it was a game we wanted to win and we needed to win.

"I'm confident I can turn it around. I came in at a difficult time for the club but I knew the expectation was to get in the top six, progress in cup competitions which we did."

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The defeat at Easter Road surely piles more pressure on Nick Montgomery as he prepares for a crucial clash against Motherwell next weekend.

Despite a lively start for the home side it ended up being a disappointing afternoon in Leith.

In spite of all that, their top six hopes do remain intact thanks to Motherwell bagging all three points in Dundee.

That shouldn’t detract from what was a poor performance and result from Nick Montgomery’s side to be on the losing end of a clash against one of the bottom sides in the Scottish Premiership.

There were some moments of quality for Montgomery’s men but evidently not enough and they come away from Easter Road with nothing.

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Hibs make one change from the side that were beaten 3-1 by Rangers last weekend.

Martin Boyle returns to the Hibs starting lineup for the first time since suffering that nasty head knock in their Scottish Cup quarter-final defeat to Rangers. He replaces Elie Youan who drops to the bench.

Josh Campbell, who hasn't featured since December, is fit enough to make the bench.

Craig Levein has also made just one change from last weekend's defeat to Dundee. Andy Considine is in from the start to replace Liam Gordon who picked up a groin injury.

Hibernian: Marshall, Cadden, Bushiri, Fish, Obita, Triantis, Marcondes, Newell, Boyle, Le Fondre, Maolida.

Substitutes: Wollacott, Hanlon, Levitt, Youan, Mayenda, Stevenson, Jair, Moriah-Welsh, Campbell.

St Johnstone: Mitov, Gallacher, McGowan, Considine, Robinson, M Smith, Keltjens, Phillips, Kucheriavyi, Clark, Sidibeh.

Substitutes: Richards, MacPherson, May, Carey, Crawford, Kimpioka, Franczak, C Smith.

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Hibs forward Myziane Maolida is eyeing another Premiership player of the month award after picking up the prize for March.

Having bagged four goals in four league games last month, the forward says joining Hibs has helped restore his confidence after a tough period in the game.

"It means I played well and tried to help the team and do my best," Maolida told Hibs TV, external. "I'm happy to receive this prize and I hope I win Premiership player of the month again.

"I enjoy my football a lot here and I'm happy to play with Hibs. I hope will continue like this."

On the coaching staff, he added: "They helped me a lot, they give me advice and confidence. I'm very confident, I play my football and try to score and assist."

Josh Campbell is back in contention for Hibs after recovering from an ankle problem. Dylan Vente, Lewis Miller, Luke Amos and Jake Doyle-Hayes are progressing well from their various ailments, with the latter back in training.

St Johnstone have no new injury problems. Drey Wright, Cammy MacPherson, Diallang Jaiyesimi and Sven Sprangler all remain sidelined but could feature before the end of the season.

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Nick Montgomery says Hibs are "really proud" of Myziane Maolida, who was named Premiership player of the month for March on Friday.

The Comoros forward scored in all four league matches last month, including an impressive finish at Ibrox last time out.

"We're really proud of Myziane," Montgomery said. "Bringing him into the club, I knew the talent that he was. The most important thing was to embrace him and bring him in.

"He's really close with the team. We knew it would take a couple of weeks to get him fit but he's shown everybody.

"Not only that, but's been following Ramadan. I think it's a real show of faith that he's continued to perform the way he has when he's faced with challenges in terms of when he can eat and when he can drink.

"I think that's inspirational. We're really happy for him. We had a little celebration for him when he got the award.

"He's not someone to speak much, but he does acknowledge that it's his teammates around him and everybody working hard for any individual to win an award."

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Hibernian head coach Nick Montgomery has been speaking to Hibs TV, external ahead of his side's meeting with St Johnstone at Easter Road on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• "Every point is vital" as his side look to continue their improved run of form in front of their home fans.

• Says it's "very important" Hibs focus on themselves despite all the permutations involving other teams looking to wind up in the top six come the split.

• Josh Campbell and Jake Doyle-Hayes are back in training, while Martin Boyle has been able to boost his fitness after making his return off the bench at Ibrox.

• The squad is "in a good a place" and everyone fighting for positions gives Montgomery "difficult decisions" to make.

• "Really proud" of Myziane Maolida for being named the Premiership player of the month, particularly during Ramadan when the forward's eating and drinking is limited.