Source: FOOTYMAD
Stokes Still Pushing
Anthony Stokes does not think the race for third is over just yet Anthony Stokes has urged his Hibs team mates not to give up on third place in the SPL - as they have already proved how suddenly a slump can occur. Hibs were considered to be the 'best of the rest' by a number of pundits and sat in third place for the majority of the season. However, a very poor run of form has allowed Dundee United to now be in pole position for that accolade with an eight-point lead over the Leith side. Hibs have endured a run of only two wins in their last 10 SPL games. However, top scorer Stokes is refusing to give up hope of another twist in the race before the end of the season. He said: "Dundee United have the lead and are in good form at the minute but we've seen this year that any team can go on a slump, so six games can change things. Because of that, we simply can't give up - we've seen how our form went as well, fortunes can change very quickly so we'll keep working and you just don't know what will happen so you have to do that." Summer signing Stokes, whose 20 goals have helped carry Hibs for much of the season, knows a win at Hamilton on Saturday is crucial to maintaining his side's bid for third spot. The last time the two sides met, Stokes managed to pick up two goals in a 5-1 win. He said: "Hamilton are a very well organised side who know and play to their own strengths. You know when you play them that they are going to graft and they will be in your face from the start. It's a game where if we turn up in the way we did last time we played them then we can get a few goals - it really is down to us, we have to graft and put the hard work in there and hopefully the football will come from that." Taking account of recent form, Stokes has also set himself an ambitious target of finishing his debut season at Easter Road with at least 25 goals to his name. The Republic of Ireland international said: "I am happy enough to have scored 20 goals so far. At the same time, there were one or two chances in games I should've taken. You have to just accept that. Overall, I'm delighted and hoping to nick a few more before the end of the season. It did take me four or five games at the start of the season to get my sharpness back again but I think I've done all right since then - my thinking is that if I can get around 25 for the season then I'll be happy. And, with six games to go, I'm hoping that I will do at least that." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is Scottish-Fitba.Net
