YOU OWE HIM ONE
Ex-gaffer Stubbs tells Easter Road players it’s payback time for boss Heckingbottom
ALAN STUBBS insists Hibs’ toiling troops owe under-pressure boss Paul Heckingbottom a victory.
The former Easter Road gaffer reckons a stronger mentality is needed within the group as they battle to get their campaign back on track.
Hibs haven’t won in 11 games and fierce fires are licking at the feet of their manager.
Stubbs accepts Heckingbottom may have been taken aback by the level of scrutiny that accompanies the job but is also convinced his dressing room need to deliver more.
He said: “The players do have to give Paul something back.
“There has been a big transformation in the summer.
“He has brought in 10 or 12 players, he’s picking them and you have to look at the record when they’ve gone ahead.
“Not winning five out of the last six games is a worry and that definitely comes down to the players’ mentality.
“It’s about doing the right things in a winning position. It’s probably not helping that Paul has been in the stands the last couple of games. But there’s only so much a manager can do.
“I’m not too sure whether Paul has underestimated the game up here. I’d doubt that. He has probably been taken by surprise by the opinions, by how the fans want the team to play.
“But the responsibility lies with the players to do the right things and manage the game.”
Hibs face Livingston tonight before a huge Betfred Cup semi against Celtic on Saturday.
The Easter Road faithful aren’t convinced about their team’s chances with the ticket allocation not sold out.
And Stubbs said: “Paul will be honest and admit this is a huge match for him.
“He has the Livingston game first but Saturday is pivotal. I know he mentioned last week about the fans being used to going to Hampden and that’s maybe why.
“I just don’t get that one. He’s just trying to keep the fans interested. He’s trying to play it down as everyone knows why ticket sales haven’t gone well. It’s because of the results so he’s got a big job ahead of him.
“I really do hope he can turn it around but it’s going to be one of the biggest tests he’s ever had in management.
“When you are playing against Celtic in such fantastic form, you want to be going in full of confidence, looking to put them under pressure. There is pressure on Celtic, within touching distance of another final. There is still pressure on Hibs too. But this is a chance for the players to realistically turn the season around.
“Paul will believe the game on Saturday turns it round not just for the team but how the fans perceive him as a manager.
“I don’t think finishing near the bottom and winning a cup would be a good season. For Hibs, the priority is finishing in a European place.”
Stubbs won a Scottish Cup for Hibs but rues the missed opportunity in the Betfred Cup when Ross County beat his side in the 2016 final.
He added: “We were the better team, we just made a couple of mistakes. I really do think we should have won it. I haven’t changed my mind on that.”
Catch the action from Hibs v Celtic in the Betfred Cup semifinal on Saturday from 5pm on BT Sport 1 and Rangers v Hearts in their semi-final on Sunday from 2:30 on BT Sport 1.