Murray takes solace in defeat

ALAN PATULLO

LOSING an Edinburgh derby is never acceptable, particularly when it prolongs a run of league matches without a win, but there was one figure associated with Hibernian unable to condemn a poor match for being completely without redeeming features.

Ian Murray made his second Hibs debut on Saturday at Tynecastle and afterwards called it an "ideal" game. What he meant, of course, was that it allowed him to be pitched straight in at the deep end after an ill-starred move to Norwich City from Rangers. Murray is an old hand at the Edinburgh derby and this knowledge helped him cope with the opening stages, when he looked as rusty as he is. With time, though, it began to look as though he had never been away, with one particularly meaty clash with Robbie Neilson, another derby veteran, proving his commitment.

Murray's fitness concerns – the player picked up a virus during his time with Rangers which led to the onset of reactive arthritis – have perhaps helped make some suspicious of his worth, with both parties having agreed to commit themselves only until the end of this season. But it appears Hibs have re-signed a player preparing for his peak years and one now powered by an additional, potent motive, which is a desperation to make up for his lost time.

"Hopefully the move will be made permanent," Murray said. "When I heard there was a possibility (it might happen] it was the only thing I wanted. There were a couple of other things, but they didn't suit me at this time. I wanted to get back into Scottish football and I was lucky that Mixu (Paatelainen, the Hibs manager] remembered me from when I played with him."

Murray showed what he can offer Hibs with a performance which grew in stature. Indeed, it made a mockery of the fact that before taking the departed David Murphy's place at left-back he had not played a first-team game in two months. Murray had only one training session in which to prepare, but was helped by some familiar faces.

"It's a decent side," he said. "I have not played with a few of the lads. I have played with Chris Hogg, Dean Shiels, and Steven Fletcher. And I have played with Brian Kerr a few times before. The Moroccan lads impressed me and big Rob Jones at the back – it's great to have someone so solid and ready
to sweep everything up for you."

Whether Jones will still be around to do this come next month remains to be seen. Murray expects some new faces to join him at Hibs but is also realistic. His own move to Rangers was influenced by economics as well as ambition, as have a host of others since. The result has been a side not quite able to fulfil its potential.

"There's no doubt we had a great team when I left, and even the seasons after we had a very good team," said Murray. "And last season Hibs did very well to win the CIS Cup and keep themselves up the league. It's just unfortunate that we seem to be selling players on but there's nothing the club can do."

The addition of Murray perhaps makes it more likely that Jones might go. Not only is the former Rangers player comfortable at centre-half, but he is also captain material – a role he fulfilled in his first spell at the club.

Taken from the Scotsman