Source: Team_Talk
Hughes warns players over pitch
Hibs' own players have criticised the club's playing surface in recent weeks, with forward Abdessalam Benjelloun branding it "horrendous".[LNB]But Hughes has warned he will not tolerate its condition being used to justify a cup exit at the hands of lower-league opposition.[LNB]Leaping to the defence of the Easter Road groundstaff, Hughes said: "The pitch has got nothing to do with it.[LNB]"There's been a lot made of our pitch - I know the work that goes in.[LNB]"I know guys who have been in there at seven-o'clock in the morning, still there at 10-o'clock at night.[LNB]"That's real character.[LNB]"My players maybe come in here from nine-o'clock in the morning until two-o'clock in the afternoon, then they go home to their bed.[LNB]"The real heroes are the ones who try to give us a surface."[LNB]Hibs could not have enjoyed a kinder Scottish Cup draw, playing the lowest-ranked sides in the competition in rounds four and five before drawing lower-league opponents once more in the quarter-finals.[LNB]Hughes hopes it proves an omen but warned his players they will be masters of their own destiny against First Division outfit Ross County - for good or for ill.[LNB]"If we go out there and be blase in any shape or form then we'll get turned over," he said.[LNB]"I don't think there's much difference between the top three or four teams in the First Division and most of the teams in the SPL.[LNB]"On any given day - especially cup day - they're more than capable of coming to Easter Road and beating us."[LNB][LNB]
