Hibs’ Head Coach Jack Ross said that the Brora Rangers’ players should be proud of their performance despite losing 3-1 to Hibs at Easter Road last night.
It looked bleak for the Highland league team after Stevie Mallan scored twice in the opening 12-minutes but ‘Rangers kept fighting for every ball and pulled a goal back from a superbly taken free-kick from Dale Gillespie.
Hibs’ Head Coach Jack Ross said that the Brora Rangers’ players should be proud of their performance despite losing 3-1 to Hibs at Easter Road last night.
It looked bleak for the Highland league team after Stevie Mallan scored twice in the opening 12-minutes but ‘Rangers kept fighting for every ball and pulled a goal back from a superbly taken free-kick from Dale Gillespie.
It took a late header from Paul Hanlon to relieve the pressure and Hibs secured the three points.
Whilst Ross was happy with certain aspects of the Hibs’ performance he was left frustrated with not winning more comfortably.
After the final whistle Ross told Hibernian TV: “I thought they were really good but I wasn’t surprised at that. They have a mentality that they are used to winning football matches. I think they also have a desire about their play that means that they do not fold.
“They kept at it and I think that is testament to their own characters and they can be proud of their performance and what they put into the game.
“I’m pleased to win the game. There were parts of the performance that I was pleased with, the opening period in particular.
“We lost our way a little in the second half, tempered by lots of players not having played regularly this season so it was pleasing that they got minutes on the pitch.
“Some of them made good individual contributions in terms of Stevie (Mallan) with his goals and assists. Jamie Gullan’s performance and Kyle’s (Magennis) performance during his 30-minutes on the pitch so there were frustrating elements but there were a lot of positives as well.
“I believe that we have used the fewest players in Premiership games this season so I think that is testament to the consistency the players have shown but equally it is difficult for these players.
“They are retaining their fitness levels with how hard they are working in training but having that game and match minutes it’s been difficult to replicate that for them.
“I was excited to seeing them on the pitch tonight because they have been good for me in bounce games and in training and as I’ve said for large parts of the game they were good.
“We lost our way a little bit but we still created a lot of opportunities an it should have been more comfortable for us.”
It took a late header from Paul Hanlon to relieve the pressure and Hibs secured the three points.
Whilst Ross was happy with certain aspects of the Hibs’ performance he was left frustrated with not winning more comfortably.
After the final whistle Ross told Hibernian TV: “I thought they were really good but I wasn’t surprised at that. They have a mentality that they are used to winning football matches. I think they also have a desire about their play that means that they do not fold.
“They kept at it and I think that is testament to their own characters and they can be proud of their performance and what they put into the game.
“I’m pleased to win the game. There were parts of the performance that I was pleased with, the opening period in particular.
“We lost our way a little in the second half, tempered by lots of players not having played regularly this season so it was pleasing that they got minutes on the pitch.
“Some of them made good individual contributions in terms of Stevie (Mallan) with his goals and assists. Jamie Gullan’s performance and Kyle’s (Magennis) performance during his 30-minutes on the pitch so there were frustrating elements but there were a lot of positives as well.
“I believe that we have used the fewest players in Premiership games this season so I think that is testament to the consistency the players have shown but equally it is difficult for these players.
“They are retaining their fitness levels with how hard they are working in training but having that game and match minutes it’s been difficult to replicate that for them.
“I was excited to seeing them on the pitch tonight because they have been good for me in bounce games and in training and as I’ve said for large parts of the game they were good.
“We lost our way a little bit but we still created a lot of opportunities an it should have been more comfortable for us.”
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.
