BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
OFIR MARCIANO has candidly admitted that Hamilton wanted the victory more than Hibs on Saturday as the Easter Road outfit’s fine start to the season came to a shuddering halt.
However, the Israel internationalist has vowed that will not happen again.
Towering goalkeeper Marciano was forced to pick the ball out of the net three times as Accies ran riot in Leith, with a double from Rakish Bingham and a Louis Longridge strike securing a shock 3-1 win for Martin Canning’s men.
Hibs were uncharacteristically meek and flat, while their defending was atrocious. That was all the more surprising given their previous 3-2 win at Ibrox and unbeaten beginning to the campaign.
Marciano was in no mood to look for excuses and, with a trip to Dundee ahead this weekend, insists the capital club must make amends.
“I think we failed on the attitude and the approach,” he said honestly. “What got us this far is our great attitude this season. And, although I can’t say we disrespected the opponent – because we respect everyone – it seemed like they [Hamilton] wanted it more than us.
“There will be tough games like that during the season – and we need to want it more.
“It is a long season and we need to find solutions, because it is hard to be at your very best and have the spark in every match. But, this is part of the challenge of football, and as players we need to adapt and find different answers. I’m sure we will do that in our next games.
“For this great group of players and for our fans, we need to be better. We are going to prepare well for the next match and I’m sure things will look very different.
Marciano, meanwhile, has leapt to the defence of Hibs stalwart Paul Hanlon, whose mistake allowed Hamilton to race into a 2-0 lead in the second period and effectively end the game as a contest.
He attempted to tidy up a simple punt forward and, instead, passed the ball into the path of Longridge, who raced through on goal and fired beyond Marciano.
“Paul is a great player and a great leader,” the Hibees’ number one told Hibs TV. “These things happen, mistakes happen to everyone.
“We have to cover and always do the best we can to help our teammates when they need it. Of course we are upset it happened and that it caused a goal, but we support each other and that is what it means to be part of a team.”
