Hibernian have completed the signing of young striker Colton Swan from the Charleston Battery this week, but the club's on-field focus was on a disappointing 3-1 Edinburgh derby defeat to Hearts. The result at Easter Road leaves Hibs seventh in the Scottish Premiership with six points from their opening three matches.
Who is new signing Colton Swan?
The 19-year-old forward has joined Hibernian from USL Championship side Charleston Battery, as reported by the Post and Courier. Swan had scored 11 goals in 21 games for the American club this season before his move to Scotland. Charleston Battery president Lee Cohen said the transfer demonstrated the club's commitment to developing players and providing pathways to higher levels.
"To move a player like Colton into the Scottish Premiership, and specifically to a club with the history and stature of Hibs, is another important step for our organization," Cohen told the outlet. The deal represents the latest in a series of successful transfers for the Battery, who have developed a business model around selling young talent.
What happened in the Edinburgh derby?
Hearts secured a 3-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road on Friday, according to reports from Sky Sports Football and the Daily Mail. James Wilson and Laurent Mendy gave the visitors a two-goal lead before Adam Mayor pulled one back for Hibs early in the second half. Any hope of a comeback was extinguished when Jack Iredale received a second yellow card, and Josh McPake added a third for Hearts four minutes later.
Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken praised his team's performance in his first Edinburgh derby in charge. "We played a brilliant first half," Vrancken said. "I was proud the guys kept their heads, found quality again and got the three points." The defeat leaves Hibs with a goal difference of +1, having scored five and conceded four in the league so far.
Why was Jack Iredale's red card so costly?
Hibernian defender Jack Iredale's dismissal proved decisive in halting his team's momentum, as detailed by the Daily Record. The Australian was booked just before half-time for a strong challenge on Jordi Altena. After Mayor's goal had given Hibs hope, Iredale received a second yellow for a poor touch and a subsequent lunge on Calvin Miller.
Hibs manager David Gray was furious with the defender's actions. "The first booking for a senior player to go and do that is needless," Gray said. "I think it's very self-inflicted at that point but it certainly took all the momentum out of the game for us which was definitely with us at that point." The red card came during a period where Hibs were applying pressure and looking for an equaliser.
Where does this leave Hibernian in the table?
The derby defeat means Hibernian sit seventh in the Premiership with a record of two wins and one loss from their opening three fixtures. They are six points behind early leaders Celtic, whom they are next scheduled to face in an away fixture on December 12th. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on our standings and fixtures pages.
Despite the setback, the club's early season form shows they have been competitive, with their two victories coming in consecutive games before the derby loss. The squad will look to regroup during the international break ahead of a challenging run of fixtures. The next match against Celtic at Celtic Park will be a significant test of their ambitions for the season.
