Kay hoping for cup magic after ‘nightmare’ start

Hibs followed up their 5-1 opening-day defeat to Alcester with a 3-2 loss at home to Inkberrow last Saturday and Kay says the return of key players cannot come quick enough.

“It took ten games for us to concede eight goals last season but we have conceded eight in two games which tells you everything,” said Kay.

“Defensively we are a soft touch at the moment and we need to get back to basics, which is firstly being hard to beat.

“It’s frustrating because we have players filling gaps all over the pitch with so many away - it’s not their fault they are not comfortable in certain key positions.

“As far as I am concerned our season starts with the cup game against Barton, with five or six back in the squad, because the last two weeks have been a nightmare.”

Hibs took the the lead on the half-hour when Jase Bradshaw converted from the spot after Cassius Fletcher was pulled back in the box.

Inkberrow then scored twice inside the last ten minutes of the first half.

The first was a bizarre own goal from captain Mike Yeates, with Inkberrow taking the lead 30 seconds before the break when their centre-half beat Ollie Manuel from 18 yards.

Inkberrow made it three when a soft shot squirmed under Manuel, with Hibs halving the deficit four minutes from time when James Coe tapped in at the far post.

Rich Kay

‘ another disappointing result after taking the lead. It’s not happening for us at the moment with a bizarre own goal bringing them level and then we have switched off the last kick of the first half. We huffed and puffed second half and again tried to get the equaliser but another player, this time the keeper has made an uncharacteristic mistake to kill the game. Basic errors are happening right through team at the moment.