Stokes refuses to give up on third

Anthony Stokes has urged his Hibernian team-mates not to give up on third place in the SPL - because they are proof of how a slump can occur. Despite occupying the so-called 'best of the rest' spot behind the Old Firm for most of the season, Hibs' hopes of finishing there have all but evaporated following a run of only two wins in their last 10 SPL games.The dramatic collapse has allowed Dundee United to leapfrog them and open up an eight-point lead, but Stokes is refusing to give up hope of another twist in the race before the end of the season."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," Stokes told his club's official website."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."Stokes, whose 20 goals have helped carry Hibs for much of the season, knows victory at Hamilton on Saturday is crucial to maintaining his side's bid for third spot."Hamilton are a very well organised side who know and play to their own strengths," said the 21-year-old, who netted twice in a 5-1 win the last time the sides met."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."Stokes has also set himself the target of finishing his debut season at Easter Road with at least 25 goals to his name."I am happy enough to have scored 20 goals so far," said the Republic of Ireland international."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."

Source: Team_Talk