Source: Team_Talk
Hibs boss Hughes holds hands up
Third-placed Hibs slumped to their heaviest defeat of the season in the SPL as the Perth side ran riot at McDiarmid Park.[LNB]Cillian Sheridan and Liam Craig netted doubles - the latter's second from the penalty spot - with Kenny Deuchar also on target as Saints leapfrogged Kilmarnock to go eighth, 10 points clear of bottom-placed Falkirk.[LNB]Anthony Stokes' goal was mere consolation and Hibs' night was compounded with red cards for substitute Colin Nish and Hughes.[LNB]The Easter Road boss again played centre-half Chris Hogg at right-back, but he felt his overall team shape was wrong as Saints out-fought them to coast to victory.[LNB]He said: "It's the biggest disappointment I've had since I came to the club. I'm really disappointed. I could try and gloss it up, but there is no point in doing that - we were well beaten, well battered.[LNB]"I'll take responsibility for it, the blame for it - I picked the wrong team, certainly picked the wrong team.[LNB]"Coming up here I felt we could try and play it and pass it, get at them, but I shouldn't have done that. "I should have come up with a different system to give us a chance to play our football. I'll look at myself and I have to learn from that.[LNB]"You can't give them two goals in the first 10 minutes. But let's take nothing away from St Johnstone, they thoroughly deserved their victory. They were hungrier, showed more desire, better passion, resulting in them beating us convincingly."[LNB]Nish was shown a straight red card by referee Brian Winter for an off-the-ball kick at Michael Duberry, meaning he was only on the park for 12 minutes.[LNB]Hughes had no complaints and added: "It was a sending off, he kicked out at him did Nishy. It was the linesman that saw it and did what he had to do.[LNB]"In terms of my own sending off, I let myself down. It wasn't having a go at the linesman for Nishy's sending-off, it was their fourth goal I was unhappy with.[LNB]"I felt there was a foul, but maybe I over-stepped the mark a wee bit."[LNB]Home boss Derek McInnes could hardly disguise his delight at Saints' biggest win of the campaign.[LNB]After a disappointing recent run, he felt his team had finally clicked into gear.[LNB]He added: "We had to play in that manner against a very good Hibs team. It was important we didn't stand off them and let their good players play. I thought the appetite from minute one was there right to the end.[LNB]"I do think there have been times in the season that possibly has been coming. We have always shown that appetite. I thought we were clinical at one end and really concentrated at the other.[LNB]"I thought for the main we never let them get their heads up, let them pass and enjoy the game."[LNB]Saints next host league leaders Rangers on Saturday and McInnes expects his charges to be buoyant.[LNB]He added: "To win it so convincingly can only be good for confidence.[LNB]"Hibs are a top side, consistent and they are not third in the league by accident. They are a team with real individuals and a manager who is driving them forward.[LNB]"I think you could see the confidence coming through the team as the goals went in. 5-1 against Hibs - we have to be pleased with that."[LNB][LNB]
