HIBERNIAN midfielder Dean Shiels has told worried fans to judge the club when the new domestic season commences rather than on their failed Intertoto Cup campaign.
The Easter Road outfit exited Europe just days into July after a 4-0 aggregate defeat to classy Swedish side IF Elfsborg on Saturday.
After a disappointing 2-0 loss in Edinburgh, Hibs' task to turn around the second round tie and keep alive hop
es of a backdoor entry into the Uefa Cup was always formidable. History was also against them; a Scottish team has never come back from a home leg deficit in European competition and, on an unfamiliar slick, artificial surface at the Boras Arena, Mixu Paatelainen's men showed signs of improvement but were again comfortably beaten.
A deflected 20th minute strike from left-back Mathias Floren, looping off Chris Hogg and deceiving Andy McNeil, quickly ended the tie as a meaningful contest.
Elfsborg enjoyed the bulk of possession, again flourishing through the promptings of 93-times capped Swedish international Anders Svensson, before a stunning long-range drive from lively forward Emir Bajrami added further gloss 11 minutes from time.
Paatelainen's charges were always going to be ring-rusty, the return leg coming just three weeks into their pre-season, while championship-chasing Elfsborg are in the heart of their campaign after just two defeats in 13 outings. But while some Hibs supporters have questioned the wisdom of entering the competition in light of the setbacks, Shiels has jumped to his club's defence and feels benefits will be felt.
The 23-year-old Northern Irishman said: "It's disappointing, but I think we can learn from it and take it as experience. A lot of the players haven't played in Europe before and I think it'll benefit us in the long term.
"We've had two tough, tough games and none of the other teams have had that. Hopefully when it comes to the new season we'll hit the ground running. We're preparing for 9 August (at Kilmarnock), we weren't preparing for this. I think you can start judging us from then onwards. We'll take the positive signs from it and hopefully it'll stand us in good stead."
However, for the 300 Hibs fans who made the trip, there are worrying issues. Paatelainen rightly admitted his displeasure at his side's shoddy defensive display and felt possession was surrendered too cheaply.
The Finn said: "Defensively, we didn't do that well. We need to get more organised and make sure every player in the team does a job. We've got a long way to go in terms of willingness to defend as a team and taking care with our passes. Some players, quite simply, just switch off. At the end of the day, it's a team performance and maybe that side of the game we need to get better."
But he admitted the challenge posed by Elfsborg, 2006 Allsvenskan champions, was perhaps too tough at this time of year and added: "There's no mistake about it, they are quality. They have excellent players and are well organised. The boys have just had their summer break and trained two or three weeks. You can't just change your sandals to football shoes and start performing high-level football."
Paatelainen highlighted his need for up to four new faces, while his sole summer signing, right-back David van Zanten, endured a troublesome two matches. Trialist Joe Keenan, the ex-Chelsea midfielder, and former Gretna forward Fabian Yantorno, who has been recovering from a long-term knee injury under Hibs' guidance, remain possible additions. The likely exit of striker Clayton Donaldson would free up some finance.
Shiels at least provided a positive note in Boras with another busy display
and he is hoping that the experience he has gained over the two legs will help his bid for international recognition.
Northern Ireland begin their World Cup qualifying campaign soon and Shiels added: "Hopefully having had this extra couple of competitive games I'll be all the better for it personally. With more Northern Irish players coming into the SPL this season, hopefully (manager) Nigel Worthington will come up and watch a game or two we're all involved in."
IF Elfsborg: Wiland, M Floren, Karlsson, Andersson, Lucic, Danielsson, Svensson, Bajrami, Mobaeck (Berglund 40), Ishizaki (J Floren 65), Avdic (Kurbegovic 82). Subs not used: Hassan, Sjoberg, Nordmark.
Hibs: McNeil, Hanlon, Jones, Hogg, Van Zanten, Murray, Chisholm (Rankin 63), Shiels (Stevenson 84), Fletcher, Nish (Campbell 84), O'Brien. Subs not used: Makalambay, Canning, Kerr, Morais.
The full article contains 766 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
