Hibs hero Boyle on 'perfect' experience of Partizan victory

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

Time and time again, when Hibs have needed a talismanic figure in a big game, he has stepped up to the plate. He was unlucky with disallowed goals in both legs against Midtjylland, but there was no doubting the legality of his first goal in Belgrade; a smart finish at the back post from Jordan Obita's corner that might just have been helped on by the head of Warren O'Hora.
His second came from the penalty spot after Kieron Bowie was fouled as Partizan defended a Hibs corner. The captain thumped the ball emphatically past Marko Milosevic before wheeling away to celebrate with the band of Hibs fans tucked in one corner of the cavernous arena.
"The atmosphere was brilliant. It was a joy to play in front of that," he said afterwards.
"It was intimidating, but the boys never cracked, never crumbled. It was a professional performance. Defensively, a great display. A clean sheet away from home. Everything you ask for. But it's only half the job done."
It has been fascinating watching Boyle combine his madcap personality with his increased responsibilities as a senior player in the dressing room and, since Joe Newell's injury, skipper of the team. It was telling when O'Hora, handed the armband when Boyle was subbed off, put it back on the Australian internationalist's arm. His press conferences nearly always contain laughter and leadership.
"The red card came from Rocky Bushiri putting his body on the line. You can see how he's matured as a defender. He's a real leader for us.
"He loves a Sliding Doors moment. He really does. But that's because he's just so tenacious. He puts his body on the line. We're very lucky to have him."
If it seemed unusual to see Boyle ghosting in at the back post from a set-piece, don't worry, You're not alone.
"I've been telling them to put me at the back post because for corners because I reckon there's ten goals a season there," Boyle explained.
'We've worked a lot on set pieces through the week. We know we're an attacking threat and we know defensively that we're really good. Thankfully, it paid off tonight and I was lucky to tap it in."
Boyle's decision to head straight for the Partizan fans and cup his ears was markedly different from the celebration for his second goal, when he simply ran to the pocket of Hibs fans tucked away in the corner of the stadium.
"It was better than the first one when I was getting vodka bottles off my head! But it was brilliant.
"I actually asked the ref at half-time if I could go over and celebrate in front of our fans, if I scored again, after he told me not to celebrate in front of the home fans, so I already knew in my head that there could be another goal for me.
'It's great to celebrate with the fans. They can have that memory, it's hopefully something that lives with them for a long time. But that will mean us finishing the job off next week."
Easter Road will no doubt be an electric place to be next Thursday but it will struggle to match the decibel levels reached in Autokomanda this week. But for all the noise, Boyle insists players thrive on the chaos.
"As a player it's just amazing. Playing at an international level, you get the feeling of it. I've played Jordan away with Australia, played at Tynecastle, Ibrox is intimidating, so I knew exactly what to expect but there are a lot of people in the squad that haven't experienced it. And it's a great experience for them.
"Everyone rose to the occasion. It's perfect. It's the crowd you want to play in front of – intimidating. It can only give you that buzz and keep you going."
A heart-in-mouth moment early in the second half when Boyle hit the deck with nobody near him turned out to be a false alarm, even if he did leave the stadium heavily bandaged.
"The knee's alright. I had a bit of a scare, I slipped and hyperextended it, so hopefully it settles down well," he said.
"I've got no time to dwell on it. We've got a game in a few days! But when you've done your knee before, your first thought is always a worrying one when something like this happens. And then when I knew it was alright, I was just telling them to waste time a little bit.
"But these things can happen in a game. Touch wood, it doesn't happen again and I'll be alright. [The strapping] is just precautionary at the moment so I'm ready to go again – and ready to hopefully score more goals."