Every word from Nick Montgomery Hibs Q&A after 'Well draw

Were you relieved to take a point, or frustrated at having to fight back?

“I’m not happy we didn’t win the game, of course. I thought we did more than enough. We could have been three nil up in the first half, I don’t think anyone could deny that. We had so much of the ball and so many opportunities out wide.

“Ultimately, we could’ve gone in at half-time in a really healthy position, but we conceded a sloppy goal from a throw-in and totally against the run of play. That was disappointing.

“Coming back from 2-1 down in a game that we should have been far ahead, I have to be happy to take the point. But I’m sure they’ll be delighted to take a point. They put ten men behind the ball and came to catch us on the counter-attack.

READ MORE: Hibs instant analysis as Youan strikes to rescue a late point

“We had 70 per cent possession, nearly 600 passes compared to 250 – but that doesn’t win you a game of football. What wins you games is concentration, putting chances away, and making sure you don’t give sloppy goals away.

“That’s what I said to the players at the end – I can’t fault the effort and the way we played, but we have to better in moments. It’s key moments that hurt us – not putting chances away and conceding sloppy goals.

“The second is an aimless free-kick that’s headed out, but we don’t deal with it when it comes back in. It was possibly offside, but VAR didn’t think that.

“At that one, you can either put your head down or you can show character. We had three kids from the academy on at the end, and Harry McKirdy, who has come back from a life-threatening injury. To see that, some things are more important than football.

“When he came on, his energy lifted the crowd. They were superb today, they appreciated the way we played and kept willing us on. I don’t think we could’ve done any more in the second half to win the game – we hit the bar and had so many balls into the box.

“But we need to better and put our chances away, and defend properly. I’m not happy we didn’t win the game but we came back from 2-1 down to take a point. We have to move on from it."

You've mentioned fine margins recently, is that where this team needs to improve?

“We were unlucky not to win against Hearts, and that’s the small margins. It was small margins again today – a lack of concentration. In a lot of games, we’ve been very, very close to taking maximum points only to concede late goals.

“But right now it's a time for me to reflect on the first half of the season. We’ve lost one game at home in four months since I arrived at the club. When I look back, there is a lot of progress made off the field, stuff that people maybe don’t see. 

“Everyone sees the result at the weekend, and I need to accept that. I accept that we need to be better. I wanted more points than we have now. 

“But we’ve got a possibility of bringing two or three injured boys back over the training camp – and hopefully bringing in one or two fresh faces. But it’s not easy." 

Have you identified targets in the transfer market?

“We’ve highlighted a lot of players we want, the positions we need to strengthen. You only need to see today, look at our squad, that’s the reality. But it’s not easy. You need to have the budget, the finances. And then they’ve got to be available, willing to come in – and able to make an immediate impact.  

“Because what I can’t do is bring players who aren’t fit, aren’t ready to play. That blocks the progress of kids like Josh Landers, Rudi Molotnikov and Rory Whittaker, or boys coming back like Harry McKirdy.  So I have to make that decision. It’s about finding the balance and finding players who can make an immediate impact. 

“I’m working hard with Brian McDermott and the scouts. We’ve identified plenty. But bringing them in is not easy.  Clubs don’t want to let quality players go. They want to protect themselves. But we’ll keep trying. Hopefully we’ll bring in a couple over the next couple of weeks. 

“We want them in as quickly as possible, to get them into training. Especially when the international boys are away. We definitely need a few bodies.  I have to take a lot out of having the academy boys on the pitch at the end of the game. That shows that the future of the club is bright."

Reports have linked you with Kris Moore of Leeds United, is there anything you can say on that? 

“I’m not going to talk about players from other clubs. We’ve been linked with a lot of players since I’ve been at the club. Right now, there’s nothing to tell you. 

“As soon as there are players in, you’ll know. But we are looking across the country and overseas to find players who can help us.” 

How happy were you to see Harry McKirdy back on the pitch?

“Look, if people saw Harry and knew what he’d been through on a daily basis, it’s been really emotional today. You’re talking about a kid who didn’t know if he’d play football again.

“He’s been up and down and had some real down periods. I’ve spoken to Harry nearly every day I’ve been at the club and he seemed a million miles away then the last few weeks he got a new lease of life. We’ve had him in the last few training sessions and he’s a real livewire. I probably didn’t want to put him on today for more than two minutes but needs must, and he lifted the crowd.

“The energy when he came on, seeing him pressing people and with a smile on his face at the end.  It was an amazing moment for him and it gives him a bit of confidence to get back into full training and hopefully, after the break, be available to make an impact off the bench because I think that’s where we’ve really struggled this last couple of months.”

He's been cleared to play, but did you still worry about putting him on?

“You have to protect Harry. He’s been through a really tough ordeal. He’s got a big heart and he’s able to train but it’s going to take time. It’ll take time to get his confidence up. That will give him a lot but we have to take it day by day with him."

Those two goals should give Élie Youan confidence, too...

“We all know Élie is a special player on his day. He can create stuff out of nothing. He’s been trying to find consistency and I thought he looked dangerous every time he got the ball.

“He took a bad knock in the first half, through the back of him. He’s limping around after. But the team needed him today and he stepped up like he did away to Hearts when I first came in. He just needs to find that consistency. He was always looking like a threat today. We’re looking for a big second half to the season from Élie."

Have you had any update on Josh Campbell?

“We are still waiting on results from a scan. It’s a bad twist and anything with ligaments and bones - sometimes it’s not easy to diagnose straight away. He’s off his feet for a couple of weeks and once it settles down hopefully it will just be a case of him doing his rehab. We're probably looking at four weeks onwards.”