Hughes hopes cup can provide respite

Manager John Hughes has high hopes for Hibernian and is hoping the Co-operative Insurance Cup can provide solace for his players. Hibs were booed off the pitch following successive 1-1 home draws against Inverness and Hamilton in the SPL which extended their winless Easter Road run to nine games in all competitions.Tomorrow night's league cup clash with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park is the first of three straight away fixtures, with Hughes looking for a victory to ease the mounting pressure, as well as targeting a return of the trophy to Easter Road after the 2007 success."I don't know how other clubs or managers see the cup, I want to go and win it," said Hughes."It would be fantastic."Kilmarnock were the opposition as Hibs won the league cup three-and-a-half years ago under John Collins with a 5-1 success at Hampden Park.Hughes is determined to emulate that victory, despite the dissent which has been audible from the Hibs support in recent weeks."I'm desperate to bring silverware to this club and I'm desperate to be a success," he said."I've still got a vision, I've still got a plan - I'm just asking the supporters to get behind the team and support them."I can understand them booing the result but I wouldn't agree with them booing the effort and commitment of the players."We all take the pats on the back when it's going well - you just need to rise above it."You need to turn it into a siege mentality, into a positive."To do that you need real strength of character."If we can do that, I think it could be the making of us - we could turn it around and use it as a real positive."Hughes hopes to turn Hibs' fortunes a full 180 degrees at Rugby Park, where they will come up against Killie boss Mixu Paatelainen, a former striker and manager for Hibs.Paatelainen played up front for Hibs with Hughes, who succeeded him as boss at the club."I'm looking forward to locking horns with Mixu, a really good friend of mine," said Hughes."It's good to see him back in the game."I'm quite sure no matter what happens we'll have a beer after the game."But it would be nice for us to go down there and win - we need that win."We're not far away and I think it would kick start our season."Hibs travel to Parkhead to meet Celtic on Saturday and play at St Johnstone the following week before the October international break.Kilmarnock are the next league opposition to travel to Easter Road on October 16.Hibs finished fourth in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League last season, qualifying for Europe.Hughes' bid to build on that success has been tempered by the sale of Anthony Stokes to Celtic, plus a foot injury to Darryl Duffy, who was signed on loan from Bristol Rovers to take Stokes' place up front.Other absentees have not helped his cause, with Derek Riordan (calf) and David Wotherspoon (dead leg) among the doubts for tomorrow's match.Hughes has called for his side to show renewed character to earn the victory he craves."Maybe we punched above our weight last year and the expectation levels went up," said Hughes."It's all hands on deck at the moment - we've been dealt a couple of bad hands with the injury to Darryl Duffy and one or two other things, Stokesy leaving."I need guys to step up to the plate and roll their sleeves up."I'm trying to help them along."

Source: Team_Talk