Falkirk ace Craig Sibbald on his happy Hibs memories, hamstring battle and game time hopes
Falkirk ace Craig Sibbald on his happy Hibs memories, hamstring battle and game time hopes.
Falkirk ace Craig Sibbald hasn’t made a career out of scoring goals - but the midfielder has build up a brilliant record against one club in particular.
And Saturday’s trip to Easter Road will be the first time that Sibbald has faced Hibs in the Navy Blue of Falkirk in nearly 10 years. His last visit to Leith with the Bairns was a sore one. James Keatings’ last-gasp winner cancelled out Sibbald’s second-half leveller that day in March 2017. The midfielder scored three times against Hibs that season - and even when the results didn’t go Falkirk’s way, Sibbald still made an impact against the Easter Road side.
That season was a bit of an anomaly mind you. The norm was simple in the Scottish Championship. Peter Houston’s Falkirk would get the better of Hibs, and Sibbald would always be on the star performers. Arguably, the 31-year-old’s greatest moment in Navy Blue came against Hibs at Hampden. Sibbald headed home a first-half winner to send his boyhood club to a Scottish Cup final.
Speaking to the Falkirk Herald ahead of Saturday’s match, Sibbald admits that he wouldn’t mind reviving his goalscoring touch against Hibs - especially because it would wind up his brother Gary, a lifelong Hibee.
Falkirk ace Craig Sibbald hoping to score more goals against Hibs
When asked if it was a special fixture for him, Sibbs said: “Definitely. I always remind my brother of those big moments too. My middle brother Gary supports Hibs. And I am sure that are the team that I have scored the most goals against. It would be a good game to score in. There is no reason why we can't go there and get a result - we have had them before. It is somewhere that you enjoy playing. It's a nice, big stadium and you know that if you get a good start to the game that you can get the fans against Hibs. We will try to use that to get the three points.
“Gary says he is busy this weekend... he'll be watching the highlights I'm sure. He's been there before watching me score against Hibs. I can remember scoring and celebrating with him in the Hibs end at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi final. I am hoping that I can enjoy some more times like that and wind him up. I usually get him tickets but he hasn't asked for one this weekend. He is a die hard Hibs fan.”
The Easter Road club sit one point and one place above John McGlynn’s Falkirk in the top-flight table, with new boss Marink Reedijk making his home debut this weekend after joining Hibs to replace club legend David Gray during the recent international break. Last time out, Hibs also suffered defeat, losing 1-0 away to Dundee United.
“Hibs are in a transition period,” Sibbs said. :We can hopefully take advantage of that and get a good start to the game. We want to play our game and go out and get the three points. It's been disappointing of late losing late goals and the results that have come due to that. It's something that we have looked at so we can rectify it. We have to do better in the next few games.
“I feel like that we have been more than in all of the games. We should probably should won a couple of them. We really aren't far away - we just need to get those last 10/15 minutes right and see out games better. We have to learn from our previous mistakes and climb the table.”
Former Dundee United player Sibbald penned a pre-contract to return to Falkirk in the summer - but it is fair to say that things haven’t been plan sailing so far. However, a hamstring issue - that had carried on from last term - has now been dealt with, allowing the midfielder to focus on his football again and force his way into the Bairns’ starting eleven.
Ipswich Town loanee Finley Barbrook has excelled since joining on loan, and the ever-present Brad Spencer make up a duo that are near-indispensable as a pairing in front of the back four.
But Sibbs is happy to have the competition: “Things need to get a wee bit better on the pitch but personally, it is has been brilliant being back home. It's nice to get used to things again and I am trying to stay fit now and get myself back in the team. It's been down to my hamstring. I've been on the bench. All I can do is show what I can do on the training field and during games. I just need to show the gaffer (John McGlynn) what I can do get myself back in the team. I've always faced challenges through my career in terms of being up against good players in my area of the pitch. It makes you a better player. I'm quite happy with that challenge and looking forward to it.
“I've been on a strength programme with my hamstring. It was something I had carried from last season playing for Dundee United. It just kept coming back. It's good that we finally got to the bottom of it this time around. I've really strengthened it up. I can't afford being in and out. That's what me and the gaffer spoke about. It was all about getting the strength back in it. I've done that now and I am looking at getting myself back in the team, although you have to recognise that the boys in my area have been doing well. You can't complain. I just need to do my bit when I can, coming off the bench.”