Stokes has shown the way - Hughes

Manager John Hughes hopes his Hibernian side can replicate Anthony Stokes' success against Kilmarnock. Stokes, who joined Celtic from Hibs for a reported £1.2million fee on transfer deadline day, scored the winner as Neil Lennon's side won 2-1 in the Scottish Premier League at Rugby Park on Sunday.Hibs travel to Killie in the Co-operative Insurance Cup third round on Wednesday off the back of two 1-1 draws at home - extending their winless Easter Road run to nine games - where the conclusion of both games was greeted by a chorus of boos.The Kilmarnock clash is the first of three successive away games, with league clashes at Celtic and St Johnstone to follow."I did have a smile on my face Stokesy scoring the winning goal," said Hughes, who was at Rugby Park for the match."I wish him all the best. I phoned him after the match and complimented him on how hard he worked, saying to him 'You must've been conning me for a year'."The reply I got was 'Aye, I got you 22 goals'. He worked ever so hard and I hope that's his first goal of many to come, albeit not on Saturday."Hughes expects a tough clash in Ayrshire on Wednesday night."Mixu (Paatelainen) has always got a good, solid team, always well organised," added the Hibs boss. "They played good football and Celtic knew they were in a game and it took them a long time to break them down."They seem to be spirited and hard working, so we're going to have to go there and be at our best."Hibs enter the game on the back of two disappointing results against Inverness and Hamilton, draws which felt like defeats.Hughes, though, believes the tide will soon turn in Leith."I'm quite sure if we keep working hard it will start going our way," he said. "We just need to stick together and keeping working away at it."Hughes was also unfazed by the audible dissent from Hibs fans. "I just laugh at it and get on with it," he added."I know football and if you keep your focus, you keep your trust and your spirit, then it turns for you."That's a test of your resolve to roll your sleeves up and go again, dig deep. That's what I'm trying to instil in the dressing room."Hughes denied an away match could be the tonic Hibs need and is determined to show the home faithful victory is close.He said: "I couldn't get into my work quick enough, because I want to get it right and I want to prove that we're in there."

Source: Team_Talk