Ross denies Hibernian were suffering derby hangover

HIBERNIAN manager Jack Ross offered no excuses after his team were deservedly downed by Livingston yesterday. The Easter Road side had faced Celtic and Rangers ahead of a fine 2-0 Boxing Day win over fierce rivals Hearts at Tynecastle. But Ross did not look to blame his side’s poor performance yesterday on a hangover from those energy-sapping and emotional big matches. ‘We didn’t deserve to win the game,’ admitted the former Sunderland and

St Mirren manager after his team were shot down by two second-half goals from Livingston’s Jon Guthrie at the Tony Macaroni Arena. ‘There was not a lot between the teams in the first half and then the first goal does have an impact. ‘After the goal we were a long way short of being good enough. However, the games we’ve played recently shouldn’t have had an effect on us. ‘Of course there is always an emotional comedown from a big game like Thursday’s Edinburgh derby. ‘But, physically, we were in the same place as Livingston, who had played away from home at Aberdeen on Boxing Day. ‘So I wouldn’t look at that as a factor. We have been a bit inconsistent in recent times, that’s something we must rectify.’ Ross was dismayed that yesterday’s defeat saw Livingston leapfrog his Hibs team into fifth place in the Premiership table on goal difference.

And he acknowledged that, despite an otherwise positive start to his arrival at Easter Road following Paul Heckingbottom’s sacking, his team still have some way to go. ‘There have been a lot of decent performances and results in the last couple of months, but days like today show that we still have a bit to go,’ said the 43-year-old. ‘We’re in the top half of the league but we would like to have an even more positive points total.’