Source: Team_Talk
Riordan: SPL gap is narrowing
Hibs can close to within two points of Celtic in the Scottish Premier League if they win at Parkhead on Wednesday night, a result Riordan reckons is perfectly possible after helping them put Hamilton to the sword on Saturday.[LNB]But the Scotland international is nevertheless refusing to look at the implications of moving to within striking range of second place.[LNB]"We've just got to keep winning our own games and try to get up as high as we can," said the 27-year-old, who spent two years of hell at Celtic before returning to Easter Road in 2008.[LNB]"It'll be a tough game for us.[LNB]"Parkhead's a hard place to go and get a result.[LNB]"I think other teams are catching up with the Old Firm these days and getting results off them.[LNB]"Hearts got a result at Ibrox.[LNB]"So we've just got to go there, think positive, and try to take as much as we can out of it."[LNB]Hibs ran riot on Saturday, ending a three-match winless run in the SPL by crushing Hamilton 5-1, their biggest victory since the 2007 League Cup final.[LNB]Riordan was still at Celtic back then, while Kevin Thomson had just joined Rangers and Scott Brown and Ivan Sproule were on the verge of leaving the club.[LNB]That crop of players were making their names at Easter Road the last time Hibs finished third in the SPL five years ago.[LNB]Riordan believes current boss John Hughes may have assembled their best squad since then, saying: "It's a bit like back at my first time at Hibs.[LNB]"We're starting to get a good balance to the team now, so it's enjoyable."[LNB]Asked if it was as much fun playing in this team, Riordan joked: "No - you've got Stokesy up front who doesn't pass the ball!"[LNB]Riordan was referring to Anthony Stokes, who joined him in grabbing a brace on Saturday after Colin Nish opened the scoring.[LNB]The pair have netted the bulk of their side's goals this season, with Stokes now on 13 and Riordan four behind.[LNB]"We've not got a bet on," Riordan added.[LNB]"He should win it anyway; I'm playing left-midfield this season so he'll get more chances than me."[LNB]They will not come from set pieces if Riordan has anything to do with it after he scored a free-kick on Saturday moments after Stokes had seen one saved.[LNB]"He keeps on going on about how he can hit free-kicks," Riordan said.[LNB]"So I had to show him how to do it."[LNB]Hamilton goalkeeper Tomas Cerny refused to use fatigue as an excuse despite Saturday's game being his side's fifth in a fortnight.[LNB]"We might have been a bit tired but that wasn't the most imrtant thing," said the 24-year-old, who watched Flavio Paixao net Accies' consolation on Saturday.[LNB]"Towards the end, we looked sharper than Hibs, but it could also be the case that they were 5-1 up and were taking it easy for the last 20-25 minutes."[LNB]There is no respite in Hamilton's schedule, with their next game Tuesday night's crucial bottom-of-the-table clash with Kilmarnock.[LNB]Cerny added on his club's official website: "We have to go into the game against Killie on Tuesdy and be ready for it because that's a massive one for us.[LNB]"It's at home so I hope we can play well and I expect us to score some goals finally and try to climb the table."[LNB][LNB]
