EDINBURGH IS STILL IN WELCOMING MODE FOR ESKI !!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

This must be a first for Hibs and Ankaragucu ............ 3, that is THREE, upbeat reports on the trot !

HIBERNIAN 2 St Mirren 1

Unbelievable performances from Hibs has seen them put some (well, a little, distance between them and Dundee Utd. Also, still only 2 points behind Celtic with all to play for in the race for the Champions League 2nd slot.

However, I have to praise manager, John Hughes, for keeping the players feet firmly on the ground and talking Europa League at this stage of the season !

After the hype of last Wednesday it was back to basics today at Easter Road with a 'banana skin' match against a useful St Mirren side.

However, it was not a promising start when, after 10 minutes, Ivory Coast International, Sol Bamba, needlessly put through for an own goal when goalkeeper Smith had it covered.

Up the workrate and tempo and Hibs then laid seige to the St Mirren goal and the equaliser duly arrived near the half time break when Liam Miller raced through from a midfield position to receive a pinpoint pass and slot it in.

Was there to be an avalanche of goals like last weekend against Hamilton ? No !!

Nish hit the post, Riordan shot over, Hanlon shot over, and Stokes was having a quiet match (for a change !).

Lots of ooohs and ahaaaas, but then the winner arrived with the referee about to blow for time. Full back, Ian Murray, made a break down the left wing and crossed in a speculative ball which was turned in by a St Mirren defender with the goalkeeper wrong-footed.

Relief ? I felt the wave of it ! Start singing again ! Final whistle and then on with the Proclaimers and ..... the 500 Miles song !!!

So, alls well here, but ......... what about Ankaragucu tomorra ? C'mon you guys. Time to stand up and be counted me thinks !!

All the best from 'still euphoric' Eski Kanka Jim