NISBET’S NOT IN HOT SPOT WITH ROSS AS JACK BACKS FALL GUY
Jack Ross refused to pin any blame on Hibs spot-kick sinner Kevin Nisbet after he blew the chance to put his side 2-1 up in extra time.
Nisbet has been a revelation for the Hibees so far this season but hit the bar with his effort from 12 yards before Hearts sealed a cup final slot with a penalty of their own.
Ross revealed that Nisbet has gone through a difficult period off the pitch and he’ll support him to come back stronger.
The Hibs boss said: “Kevin had the courage to take the penalty as a young man. I can’t complain about how he strikes the ball but obviously there was too much elevation on it.
“Kevin has had a challenging period personally and he has come through that. He has worked his way through it. That is testament to his character as a young man. It is my job now to help him through that.
“He will be OK. He will be sore right now but he will be OK and ready to go once the next game comes around.”
Ross had no complaints about his side’s effort in the derby and insisted there wasn’t much in the game.
Hibs equalised through Christian Doidge to take it into extra-time but after Nisbet’s miss from the spot and several Craig Gordon saves, Liam Boyce won it at the other end.
Ross said: “We came out on the wrong side of the fine margins. I can’t sit here and say we
didn’ t turn up. E lement s of our performance were good and we created chances to win the match.
“It doesn’t make it any less sore but what is important now is how we react to it. Craig Gordon has done that throughout his career. That was part of the fine margins.
“We came up against a goalkeeper in that type of form and making those saves.”
Gutted Hibs skipper Paul Hanlon believes Hearts got lucky with their penalty award and insists Ross’s men will bounce back from the painful defeat.
He said: “It’s very hard to take. We had chances to see ourselves into the final.
“I thought the penalty for Hearts was soft. He gets the wrong side of Paul McGinn, goes down and gives the ref a decision to make.
“It will take a few days to get over it but we are in a good position in the league and we want to continue that. So Aberdeen is a massive game for us next.”