The new manager bounce expected when Marink Reedijk replaced David Gray has yet to materialise and patience among Hibernian supporters is already being tested.

Saturday's defeat by Falkirk, their first top-flight loss to the Bairns at Easter Road in 20 years, left many fans asking serious questions about the direction of their team.

It is now more than six months since Hibs last won a Scottish Premiership match at home. With every game that passes without a victory, confidence appears to be draining from a team desperately in need of a lift.

The questions are mounting. What is the identity of this side? How can Reedijk get the best out of his players? Why are so many underperforming? And how much responsibility lies with the manager, as opposed to a recruitment strategy that is increasingly coming under scrutiny?

Reedijk insisted after Saturday's defeat he felt more positive than he had following the loss at Dundee United seven days earlier. That may offer some encouragement from within the dressing room, but the league table makes uncomfortable reading.

Being bottom of the Premiership, even at this early stage of the campaign, is hurting a club whose supporters expect far more.

The next 10 days provide three opportunities to change the mood around Easter Road. First up is the visit of champions Celtic on Sunday.

Few will give Hibs much chance against a side that rediscovered their scoring touch in spectacular fashion last week, hitting seven past Hearts.

It is a daunting assignment for a team short on confidence, but that does not mean it should be approached with a sense of inevitability.

The next challenge is a midweek trip to Paisley to face St Mirren, who have been conceding plenty of goals amid a five-game losing run. That is a fixture Hibs must view as a genuine opportunity.

Then comes the small matter of a Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts at Hampden. It is the kind of occasion that can transform a season, particularly for a group searching for confidence.

For now, the priority is simple. Hibs need to start winning, and Reedijk needs his players to show that they believe they can.