Bairns boss embraces dogfight

16 April 2009 17:46
Last weekend's 3-0 surrender to fellow strugglers Kilmarnock was a bitter disappointment for Hughes as the Bairns saw themselves fall four points behind Inverness and St Mirren at the foot of the SPL. Hearts - brimming with confidence following their display in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Celtic - make the journey to the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday and Hughes is hoping for a reaction from his team in the final match before the SPL split. He said: "It was a right bad result for us against Kilmarnock on Saturday, a right bad result. "Take nothing away from Kilmarnock, it was a bad result in terms of the scoreline as well. "We were not as bad as some folk were making out; we played some right good stuff. "We have talked about it, we were calculated in what we were talking about. "We just put it right on the line for them, we are fighting for our livelihoods and it's as simple as that. "We need to learn how to handle it and learn how to embrace it and the only way we can get out of it is winning football matches, bottom line." While Hughes is facing the toughest test of his managerial career, Tynecastle counterpart Csaba Laszlo has enjoyed a memorable maiden season in Scottish football, guiding Hearts to third place. And Hughes admits the Hungarian has performed miracles in Gorgie following Hearts' dismal eighth-place finish last term. Hughes, who is facing a striking shortage with Steve Lovell out of Saturday's encounter and Mark Stewart, Carl Finnigan and Neil McCann all major doubts, added: "We know how difficult it is going to be on Saturday against a right good Hearts team. "They are playing some right good football and scoring goals. "They will be very buoyant following their result against Celtic at the weekend. "They have some wonderful footballers but we need to go and combat their strengths and go and play our football. "Csaba has done a fantastic job, a real fantastic job to turn it around from the season they had last year. "He has brought great stability to the club and I think he is getting the best out of the players, the recent one being young Calum Elliot up front." Hearts 11/10, Falkirk 12/5, Draw 12/5  

Source: Team_Talk