Ross: It’ll be double tops or nothing
Jack Ross has told his Hibs players they have two games to set the tone for the rest of their season.
The new Easter Road boss has seen a strong start undone with three defeats in four matches in a brutal run of fixtures towards the winter break.
But after beating Aberdeen then sore defeats to Celtic and Rangers, he insists the derby with Hearts and next Sunday’s trip to Livingston are crucial to repair the fragile psyche of his team.
He said: “It’s something I’ve already spoken to the players about. We went into the games against Celtic and Rangers believing we could take something from them.
“Now they are gone and we know the significance of these next two games. If we win both, it’s been okay.
“If we don’t then we’ll have to reflect on things and say, ‘ We’re still a good way short of where we want to be’. So they’re important games for us.
“I looked at the fixtures when I first came into the job and knew this was a pretty tough run.
“You don’t go into games against Celtic and Rangers thinking they are free hits, which means we have to try to win the next two.”
Questions were asked of Hibs’ shape in their 3- 0 home defeat to Rangers on Friday, Ross’ preferred midfield diamond giving Steven Gerrard’s side freedom in the wide areas.
Asked whether he’d stick with it at Tynecastle on Boxing Day, he said: “First we’ll assess the personnel and see how we are fitness-wise.
“The Rangers game, particularly the early part, wasn’t about the system – it was to do with us losing two soft goals in that period.
“The prep for the Hearts game begins now, though, and we will look at that over the coming days.”
It’ll be Ross’ first formal return to Tynecastle since he was axed as their head of academy and manager-inwaiting by Craig Levein four years ago.
But he said: “I haven’t really given it much thought. I’ve become a little bit cold about everything, where it has all become very much my job.
“I am looking forward to it, though. I’ve been involved in these games and know about the atmosphere. I want us to go there and win.”