Reedijk rues 'imprecision' after Hibs lose 1-0 at Dundee United

WHAT HAPPENED
Marink Reedijk’s first match as Hibernian manager ended in a 1-0 defeat at Dundee United, one game into his reign after being appointed last month. Daniel Bennie scored on 35 minutes and Hibs finished with 10 men when on-loan midfielder Jacob Devaney was sent off for denying Neil Farrugia a goalscoring opportunity.

REEDIJK'S REACTION
Reedijk, who had guided SK Beveren to an unbeaten title in Belgium's second tier last season, singled out final-third errors. "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," he told BBC Scotland. "If you summarise it, it's imprecision and indecisiveness towards the final third and in the final third."

MATCH DETAILS
Hibs switched to a back four for the game — a change from the back three used by predecessor David Gray — and struggled to finish promising positions, registering their fourth game this season without scoring. Callum Wright was involved in an early move that almost produced a goal for Josh Mulligan, and new signing Rabbi Matondo briefly brightened the attack in the second half. United finished with 17 shots, 10 of them inside the Hibs box, producing an expected goals (xG) value of 1.68.

WHY IT MATTERS
Former Scotland international James McFadden noted the tactical shift Reedijk is asking of his players, from a system that used high wing-backs to a 4-2-3-1 that demands wide players get beyond the back line and play with speed. McFadden said the change "takes time" and added: "Hibs won't be in trouble come the end of the season, absolutely not." He also welcomed Reedijk's disappointment that the players could not execute the new ideas straight away.