Hibs boss eyes another good run

29 December 2009 17:18
Hibs' bid to make amends for Sunday's 4-1 home thrashing by the Scottish champions was put on hold this afternoon after the big freeze claimed Wednesday night's match at St Johnstone.[LNB]Their next chance to begin a new undefeated sequence therefore comes in Sunday's Edinburgh derby at Easter Road.[LNB]The chastening defeat by Rangers two days ago was Hibs' first since they went down 2-0 at Hamilton in mid-September, a result which had Hughes fuming.[LNB]But he was more philosophical about his side's latest setback.[LNB]"It's hard to get angry with the boys because the boys have been fantastic for me since I came to the club," he said.[LNB]"They really took on board what I'm looking for and it resulted in us going 12 games unbeaten, so all credit to them."[LNB]Hughes still took issue with aspects of Sunday's performance, which saw Hibs beaten after Anthony Stokes gave them the lead in just 12.4 seconds, the fastest opening goal in SPL history.[LNB]"You're frustrated coming in losing the first half," said Hughes, whose side dominated the opening quarter.[LNB]"Even at 2-1, you're still in the game, no matter if you're not playing too well.[LNB]"But to concede the fourth goal was really disappointing.[LNB]"Then you're saying to yourself, for 20-25 minutes we were exceptional. Why are we not doing that for 90 minutes?[LNB]"So those are all the things I'm trying to say to the boys, 'Come on - we can do it, we can do it', and give them confidence and give them belief.[LNB]"It's up to them to take it on board and say, 'I grasp the concept', and 'Let's go and produce the goods'.[LNB]"Some of the stuff they've given me this year has been really, really top drawer.[LNB]"Hopefully, from now on in, that'll be a blessing in disguise, we'll take it on board and we'll go another 12 games unbeaten."[LNB]Hughes insisted his players had not needed geeing up in the wake of Sunday's result.[LNB]"They're self-motivated, they lift themselves," he said.[LNB]"Because they know they let themselves down and I think they want to put that right."[LNB]The result, which left Hibs eight points behind their opponents, was also a reality check to those who claimed Hughes' men could push the Old Firm all the way in the title race.[LNB]"So many over the years have tried - who was the last one to do it?" said Hughes, before it was pointed it had been almost 25 years since the Old Firm had been beaten to the title.[LNB]"It just shows you the enormity of the task."[LNB]Hughes, who expects goalkeepers Graham Stack and Yves Ma-Kalambay to both be fit for the visit of Hearts, accepts he may need to further improve his squad if Hibs are to sustain a title challenge in forthcoming seasons.[LNB]"In terms of players, that's an ongoing process," he said.[LNB]"I've got standards at the club and I'm trying to raise the bar. I'm saying to my players, 'Don't get left behind. If you match those standards then, before you know it you'll be in that first team winning football games week in, week out'.[LNB]"Does that guarantee you success? No. Because sometimes you bring a player to your club and he's the wrong type, he's the wrong character.[LNB]"So you have to be very, very guarded in what you're doing."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk