Tactical switch paves way to Hibs win, says Cohen

Encounters between Hibernians and Valletta are usually highly-charged, thrilling affairs.

Last season, Valletta had the upperhand, winning three of their four league meetings with Hibs and drawing one. Talk of a City jinx on Hibs punctuated the build-up to the league clash between these two juggernauts of local football last Friday.

On current form, Hibs ought to have been regarded as favourites to emerge winners after a maximum return of 12 points from their previous four matches had propelled them to the top of the standings.

Valletta managed eight points from their first five matches but a combination of an easy 4-1 victory over St George's in their previous outing and their excellent record in direct matches with Hibs last season fuelled their optimism of extending their positive run over the Paolites.

Come Friday evening, Hibs and Valletta delivered another competitive showdown but this time, it was the former who infused fighting spirit into their attacking football to eke out a come-from-behind 3-1 victory.

In a game of fluctuating emotions, Valletta drew first blood when Nigerian midfielder Uzeh Edafe's thunderbolt sailed beyond Mario Muscat's desperate dive and into the right-hand corner of the net.

Hibs channelled their frustration at conceding against the run of play into a greater collective effort to bounce back but they had to wait until the 51st minute to restore parity when Andrew Cohen dispatched the ball powerfully past Saviour Darmanin from the penalty spot.

Having procured the penalty that led to his team's equaliser, striker Terrence Scerri got in on the act with two goals to seal Hibs' success.

"Our victory over Valletta was thoroughly deserved," Cohen said.

"We worked extremely hard for the three points. There was a fair degree of wariness in our dressing room before kick-off because Valletta turned out to be a sort of bogey team for us last season.

"Going behind after 16 minutes increased the pressure on us but we stayed positive and never lost confidence in our ability to turn things around."

Massimo Grima's tackle on the steaming Scerri and Cohen's successful conversion from the penalty spot when the second half was barely six minutes old, were identified by many as the turning point of the match.

For Cohen, Hibs' successful comeback was plotted in the dressing room during the interval.

"The turning point for us came during half-time when the coach swapped the positions of Terrence Scerri and Ndubisi Chukunyere," the Hibs skipper observed.

"During the first half, Scerri was finding it hard to make his mark in a wide attacking position but for the second half, he reverted to his usual central position and Chukunyere took over on the wing.

"This switch gave our team a new dimension as we were able to get more passes and crosses into the box and Scerri performed his role as target man to perfection."

Hibs' ascent to the top of the standings after a five-match winning run has strengthened their status as title candidates.

"Our ambition is to challenge for the title," Cohen commented. "These are still early days and the title race is yet to start but we're optimistic. We don't have as large a squad as the other quoted clubs but the young players in the group are talented and growing fast.

"Our victories over Sliema and Birkirkara vindicate our potential but our biggest test will be the match against Marsaxlokk."

Cohen may have been one of the architects of Valletta's downfall last Friday but his side's victory has not diminished his respect for the Citizens.

"Having seen every game played by Valletta this season, I consider them as a most valid team," Cohen remarked.

"I thought they struggled a bit against us but I guess it was down to us making life difficult for them. In training last week, we paid great attention to how we had to defend to curtail the threat of Monesterolo and Agius. Keeping their strikers relatively quiet during the game was key to our victory."

A cartilage operation forced Cohen to miss Hibs' UEFA Cup matches as well as their first two league fixtures but the MFA Player of the Year is now back to full fitness and has certainly played a prominent role in his team's unbeaten run of late.

As the Premier League takes a backseat in view of Malta's Euro 2008 Group C qualifier at home to Hungary tomorrow week, Cohen's eyes are fixed on regaining a regular place with the national team.

"I'm looking forward to training with the national squad for the next nine days," Cohen said.

"I want to do well in training to underline my claim for a place in the team.

"My aim is to be in the starting formation against Hungary."

Like most players returning from injury, Cohen needed some time to get back into his usual rhythm. Valletta defender Massimo Grima is another player striving to sharpen his match fitness and confidence after a lengthy lay-off caused by a cruciate operation.

The 27-year-old Grima made his first competitive start in more than seven months on Friday and although he was on the losing side, his performance will have raised his and Valletta's hopes of a quick return to form.

"Considering that I hadn't started a match for several months, I was pleased with my performance against Hibs," Grima said.

"I had ball practice for the past month now. I made a couple of substitute appearances but nothing compares to playing a game from the start. I was a bit edgy at first but I tried not to think about the injury and focus more on my game. My confidence grew as the match progressed."

Grima's determination to show that his injury has not blunted his competitive edge certainly stood him in good stead, bar the episode when his sliding challenge on Scerri yielded an equaliser for Hibs from the penalty spot.

Clear penalty

Looking back on Friday's game, Grima said: "We played well in the first half. Hibs had more possession but they were rarely dangerous. The game turned on its head with that penalty. I have to say that the referee made the correct decision because I was late with my tackle.

"After Hibs' equaliser, we doubled up our efforts to try and regain the lead but it was Hibs who struck again. We might have gone two goals ahead but for some good saves by Mario Muscat on shots by Gilbert Agius and Sebastian Monesterolo."

In what promises to be a knife-edge battle for Championship Pool places, Valletta's loss to Hibs coupled with victories for Msida St Joseph, Birkirkara and Sliema, look to have complicated the Citizens' bid to consolidate their top-five position.

In Grima's mind, there are no doubts about Valletta's ability to claim a Championship Pool berth.

"I firmly believe Valletta will be in the top six," Grima stressed.

"It's going to be difficult because there are seven strong teams fighting for six places but I'm sure we can do it.

"Now we have to put this upset behind us and focus on getting the points in our next matches."