Hibs’ Head Coach Alan Stubbs is happy with the improvement in performances from his players and he insists that everyone is focussed on tonight’s game against champions Rangers at Easter Road, then all thoughts will turn to Morton on Saturday.
Speaking to Hibs TV, he said: “Since the Alloa game, performances have been better. The Falkirk game, no matter what anyone else says, for 85 minutes it was a considerable improvement. we lost concentration for two set pieces.
“At the weekend, the players’ concentration was better.
“The players have recovered and they know how important recovery is with the nutrition and the fluids and getting everything into their bodies to prepare for the game.
“I don’t expect tiredness to be a reason why we can’t win a game of football.
“The Rangers’ game is important. we obviously want to finish as high as we can. In order to do that getting three points would significantly enhance our chances of finishing second, but I still believe that there will be a few twists and turns before the end of the season.
“We have to focus our attention to the Rangers game, get three points then look toward Morton on Saturday.
“Our home form has been very good but we know it will be a difficult game. Rangers have a good team.
Most Hibs’ fans would have chosen to play Rangers in the Scottish Cup final, rather than Celtic however Stubbs insists that before the game he had no preference although in hindsight things have worked out well. He continued: “I went to the other semi-final on Sunday to enjoy the game and I didn’t have a preference but now, looking at the fact that we will be playing Rangers has helped in the fact that we can call upon Stokesy (Anthony Stokes) and Hendo (Liam Henderson) so from that point of view I’m pleased, but I didn’t have a preference.”
The Head Coach also confirmed that Mark Oxley will be between the sticks tonight, despite the heroic performance of Conrad Logan on Saturday and he explained his reasons for coming to that decision. “Conrad (Logan) came on a short term deal and he is working his way back to full fitness. He came in on Saturday and did really well and no-one can argue with that but Mark (Oxley) is my number one. what Conrad has done is that he has certainly provided real competition with places with Otso (Virtanen) for that number one place.
“That should spur Mark on. If his performances drop Conrad and Otso are waiting in the wings.
Meanwhile Stubbs updated the supporters on the status of the injury victims in the squad. “Farid (El Alagui) is waiting on a scan on his injury but it looks like he has a grade one hamstring tear so we are looking at three weeks.
“Dylan (McGeouch) is doing really well. he has stepped up his fitness programme each day this week and we are hoping that he is going to be maybe back for the Queen of the South game but if not certainly for the play off games.
“Fonts (Liam Fontaine) is also doing well. He’s running now and stepping up his fitness work and we are hoping that will join in training some time next week.
“Dan Carmichael is the same. He is doing well and is progressing along nicely and he potentially will be back before the last game of the season.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
