Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous feels Shaun Maloney’s style of play can bring out the best in him after a promising start to the new manager’s reign.
Porteous scored the only goal and collected the man-of-the-match award as Hibs beat Aberdeen 1-0 at Easter Road on Wednesday night.
The centre-back told Hibs TV: “There’s loads of different ways to win a football match and this manager has brought in a different style.
“I did enjoy playing it. I think it can really highlight the strengths of my game, in possession and out of possession. I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the future.
“It was a different way of playing. The gaffer is trying to implement a different style. Although he was only in for a couple of days, I thought we did well.
“I thought first half we controlled it, dominated the ball. It was probably just (about) trying to be a bit braver at breaking the lines and trying to break Aberdeen down rather than just keeping the ball.
“But I thought it was good, I enjoyed it and I was delighted to get the goal.”
Porteous scored his ninth goal for Hibs when he headed home a 64th-minute corner but it was the first time the team had gone on to win after he netted.
“I have actually known that,” the 22-year-old said. “I don’t know why, I have thought about it before. I was thinking on the pitch, we always draw when I score. So it was good to finally get that monkey off my back.”
Porteous was just as happy with the clean sheet, the second in a row at Easter Road after Hibs went 11 games without shutting out their opponents.
“We are delighted to get back-to-back clean sheets in the league, it’s something we want more of as defenders, clean sheets,” Porteous said. “I don’t think we have had enough of them this season.”
