Ross proud of players rebounding after break

A DELIGHTED Jack Ross saluted his Hibernian players after watching his side comfortably dispatch Rangers to tee up a Premier Sports Cup final meeting with Celtic next month.

A first-half Martin Boyle hattrick sent the men from Leith on their way to a resounding victory at the national stadium, with Scott Arfield’s goal shortly before the interval little more than a consolation.

After not kicking a ball for over three weeks and coming into the showpiece fixture on a run of four straight defeats, a victory for Ross’ men looked unlikely at the outset – but the Hibs head coach said each and every one of his players followed their duties to the letter.

“I’m immensely proud,” he beamed. “To deal with the circumstances that we’ve had in the last month and produce that performance against a top team in a tough atmosphere – it was just outstanding.

“I couldn’t be any prouder of the staff and the players. We’ve been questioned recently but we responded brilliantly. We’ve been questioned about big games but we keep getting to big games. We were outstanding today.

“I did mention pre-match that in the games we’ve played against Rangers recently we’ve been good and we’ve been a threat.”

Boyle’s goalscoring exploits will grab the headlines after a thrilling first-half display all but put the match beyond Rangers. Ross is in no doubt as to just how important the Australia internationalist has been since he arrived at Easter Road two years ago.

“He’s incredible,” Ross added. “He’s maybe felt in the past that in these occasions at this stadium he’s maybe not been at his best.

“I was chatting to him yesterday and he said the only team he’s not scored against is Rangers prior to today. He felt it was the right time – he maybe didn’t expect it in the manner that it happened.”