McInnes eyes strong response to 'sore' cup exit
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Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Beni Baningime wants more responsibility - Hearts need his influence
Premier Sports Cup exit hurt the Congolese midfielder Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Seeing Beni Bangingime strolling towards the penalty spot in Paisley on Saturday would have been unexpected for many of the 1,476 travelling Hearts fans. The midfielder is not known for his shooting ability, but he confidently converted his team's fifth penalty in the Premier Sports Cup shootout against St Mirren. Malik Dijksteel then did likewise to win the tie for Saints and take them into the quarter-finals. A cup exit in mid-August hurts Hearts after six wins from six under new head coach Derek McInnes. Shamal George's penalty save thwarted the Tynecastle forward Claudio Braga in the shootout, resulting in defeat by the tightest of margins. Baningime is just returning from injury and his influence had been notably missed in recent games. The Congolese is now one of the more senior players at Tynecastle Park, a responsibility he does not take lightly. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When asked to take a penalty, he didn't hesitate despite knowing there were more accomplished finishers around him. It is a sign of the player's maturity that he wanted to shoulder the pressure and step forward for the fifth - and potentially pivotal - Hearts kick. He had entered the fray as a half-time substitute and brought composure to midfield. The visitors enjoyed a stronger second half, scored an equaliser and pushed for a winner in extra-time following an unconvincing first 45 minutes. The improvement with Baningime on the pitch is no coincidence. He explained why he is willingly assuming extra responsibility these days, starting with that penalty-kick. 'I was down to take one, yeah,' said the midfielder. 'The gaffer asked me: 'How are you feeling?' I was like: 'Yeah, I'm fine.' I just said I wanted the attacking players to go first because, ultimately, they should be going first. Just because they're better than me at shooting. If it was one-v-ones or tackling, then I'd be like: 'No, I'll go first.' I'm 27 next month, so I'm not a kid anymore. I need to try and take on more responsibilities. When the gaffer called my number, I was like: 'Yeah, fine.'' More responsibility comes this week as Baningime and other experienced figures try to rejuvenate their Hearts colleagues following the disappointment of Saturday's cup exit. 'Oh yeah, 100 per cent,' he acknowledged. 'I think as you grow, you've been in the game long enough, you've seen a lot of things, you've experienced a lot of things. You take on a different role without even someone telling you. Maybe someone is a bit younger than me, or you know people's character, so you know maybe he's not going to be as good at this. So you end up just taking on responsibilities and it just fits. 'It was a tough first half on Saturday, but I thought the second half was a different game and then, obviously, we had extra-time. It's a tough one to take. It's hard to take positives out of losing, but I think you've got to. It's happened, you've lost, you've got to move on, and you've got to bounce back as quickly as you can. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad EPL win and Scottish Premiership success - but Premier Sports Cup heartache 'I think from the pre-season, when we even beat a Premier League side [Sunderland] in one of our games, it's been good so far. It's a bump in the road. The game could have gone either way. That's what penalties are. We could be coming in and saying: 'Oh great, a win.' Unfortunately for us, that wasn't the case. It's happened, a we have to try not to allow this to derail us any further.' Braga looked dejected at being the only one of 10 players not to convert during the shootout. The Portuguese is a popular figure among Hearts fans as a new signing with fervour and character in abundance. Again, Baningime and others will try to help lift his spirits if needed. 'He was okay [afterwards],' said Baningime. 'I think experienced players, we have to get around him and be like, that can happen to anyone. It could have been me, it could have been Shanks, it could have been anyone. Ultimately for him, it's the same message that I'm saying to the team: It's happened, it's gone. 'On another day, he scores a goal. So you have to try and move on as quickly as possible. He's had a great start to his Hearts career, so you don't want this thing being the thing that changes that. Hopefully he can bounce back. He's a strong boy, and he'll be okay. All the boys will be around him.' Although fatigued and despondent trudging off the pitch in Paisley, Baningime is not a believer that extra-time should be bypassed in football. Some observers have called for penalties at the end of 90 minutes but the Hearts midfielder does not share that view. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This is my thinking on it, right,' he said. 'I'll maybe [think differently] when we're in Europe, you play a lot of games. I don't play international matches, but I understand some of the points of the boys saying: 'Well, we play this amount of games, we've got the Club World Cup, etc.' I also do think extra-time, it's just part of the game. It's part of something that I've always grown up playing. So I'm on the side of sticking with it. 'If you play 90 minutes and then you're taking penalties, I don't know, it just sounds weird to me. You get paid a lot of money, so I'm not really on the side of complaining that we're playing more football. All those boys, let's even say higher up in the Premier League and whatever, some of these guys are earning thousands. You can easily just change players and alternate if you want. So I'm on the side of playing extra-time.'
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Williams sympathises with Scotland's contract woes
Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Scotland v WalesVenue: Salford Community Stadium Date: Saturday, 23 August Kick-off: 14:45 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online and BBC Sounds Wales co-captain Kate Williams says she sympathises with Scotland players who are going through contract uncertainty in the build up to the Rugby World than half of Scotland's squad fear being left without a professional deal after the tournament in October.A source in their camp told the BBC in June players were suffering with their mental and emotional experienced similar upheaval last year when they were given ultimatums and threatened with withdrawal from the World Cup when contract talks broke Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) later apologised for its handling of the situation."I wouldn't wish what we went through on any other team," said Williams. Scotland are due to meet Wales in their Pool B opener on is a game which could decide which team makes it through to the quarter-finals, with Canada expected to top the group and both sides tipped to beat Fiji."I think it's really poor timing for them, that they're going through this now," said Williams."I guess our timing was possibly a bit better," with Wales' woes coming prior to WXV2 rather than the World while Williams says she and her team mates "feel their pain", there will be no time for sympathy in Salford."We are here to play rugby and we're here to win that Test match," she added."We know how important it is, so it's just going to be who's better on the day."
Scotsman
7 hours ago
- Scotsman
David Gray delivers Hibs injury boost ahead of Legia Warsaw
The Hibs head coach has provided his verdict on a victory at Livingston in the Premier Sports Cup Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... David Gray says he could have Jamie McGrath at his disposal for a crucial clash against Legia Warsaw, after Hibs secured their spot in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win at Livingston. The Easter Road head coach made six changes off the back of a 4-3 aggregate win in the Conference League against Partizan Belgrade less than 72 hours prior, and with Thursday's UEFA Conference League play-off first leg versus Legia to consider. His rotated team proved their worth as Thibault Klidje scored the opener and Josh Mulligan rifled home the winner late in the second half. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hibs take on Rangers next month at the last eight stage but focus now turns to a crucial first leg at Easter Road against Polish opposition. Speaking after the game, Gray was asked for an injury update on summer signing McGrath who missed both the Partizan second leg and clash at Almondvale. He is hopeful of calling upon him for play-off action. David Gray delivers Hibs injury boost Gray said: 'We are very hopeful of that as well, he's due to train on Monday. He will be in full training between now and Thursday and as long as he keeps progressing that would be a positive. Another positive would be Nicky Cadden again, the physios probably thought it was too long with the extra time the other night. We got another 30 mins into him today so everyone should be in a good position come Thursday.' Goal scorer Kildje was one particular standout that Gray talked up after impressive displays against the Lions. He said of the striker who signed from Luzern for a record fee and performance as a whole: 'I'm delighted for Thibault getting his goal, when you bring a striker to a club you want them to get off the mark as quickly as they can. 'We have been patient with him, we don't want to rush him because he's getting used to the intensity of our training and the physical challenges. He is still settling but he was a constant threat, he brought energy and he took his goal well. He put in a very strong performance, there is a lot of improvement still to come and he will take a lot of confidence from that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad David Gray verdict on Hibs vs Legia Warsaw 'Everyone was of a very high standard, which was to the benefit of the group. I thought it was a very professional performance, we had good control of the game and deserved to go through. I'm delighted for the players because before the game we knew people would be looking at this asking how we'd cope with another game in Europe, extra-time, coming to Livingston on an artificial pitch, and the mental fatigue because of the schedule we've been on. 'I thought it was a brilliant performance from that point of view. We were able to make changes and the level of performance didn't drop, so it was really good day's work from everyone. We knew this schedule was coming so had to be prepared for it, so that's why you have a squad. 'That was the challenge for the players who haven't been playing. It was job done in terms of that, really good from the squad and we've got minutes into a lot of players. Everyone has come through it okay, we have a few bumps and bruises but I'm expecting everyone to be ready for Thursday. 'We have been quite consistent over the piece in terms of certain positions. Something we demonstrated last year was the strength of the group. That showed, bringing on Josh Mulligan, Elie Youan and Junior Hoilett gave us legs. It's a very good headache to have for me.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With Rangers to come next month for a chance to go to Hampden, Gray said: 'It's a very tough draw, as we know, we knew who we'd face if we got through. To win the trophy you have to beat the best teams. It will be a tough test but one we'll look forward to when it comes around. There's a lot of football to be played and I've always said when you come to this football club it's about trying to win something.'
