Under-fire Hibs boss refuses to walk away

HIBS 2 ROSS COUNTY 2

Paul Heckingbottom is adamant he will not walk away from the Easter Road hot seat amid further calls for his resignation.

But the Hibernian head coach admits there is no easy fix to their crisis of confidence.

Heckingbottom saw his side throw away another lead against Ross County on Saturday, with goals from Brian Graham and a Joe Chalmers thunderbolt cancelling out efforts from Daryl Horgan and Scott Allan.

Hibs have now dropped 13 points from winning positions this term, more than any other team in the division, and Heckingbottom acknowledged after the game his side struggled to cope with the mental aspect of holding on to a lead when the score went to 2-1.

The capital club remain in the Premiership’s relegation playoff position and without a league win since a narrow victory against St Mirren on the opening day of the season.

“Wins are the way to bring confidence back,” said Heckingbottom. “But if you were to say, ‘how do you get them to deal with that anxiety?’ Well, if there was an easy answer to that, then we’d all be doing it.

“That’s the magic question.”

KILMARNOCK 1 ST MIRREN 0

St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin bemoaned a lapse in concentration that cost his side in a narrow 1-0 defeat against Kilmarnock in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

The Buddies had the lion’s share of the chances during a dull Rugby Park encounter but lost out to Gary Dicker’s goal 12 minutes from time.

The Irishman was found unmarked from Rory McKenzie’s whipped delivery – something that frustrated his compatriot Goodwin.

“It’s a lapse in concentration at a set-play and unfortunately it’s cost us the game,” he said.

“I think the game was very even. I don’t think anyone could have argued it if had finished 0-0. I can never fault the players’ efforts. I think they were brilliant in terms of the game plan. Everything we had hoped for worked.

“Kilmarnock are very dangerous on the counterattack. They drop back in and have 10 men behind the ball and hit you on the break.”

LIVINGSTON 0 HEARTS 0

Uche Ikpeazu accepted the blame for Hearts’ failure to break down Livingston in Saturday’s goalless draw.

The big striker missed the best opportunity in a game of few chances, unable to beat goalkeeper Matija Sarkic in the first half after being played in by Sean Clare.

Livingston played the bulk of the second half with just 10 men after Aymen Souda was sent off and Ikpeazu was frustrated his side could not take advantage.

He said: “We should win the game especially when you’re playing against 10 men.

“They were camped in and when you get a chance you have to take it.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t do that but I’ll work hard and look to put things right on Wednesday (against St Johnstone).

“I did the right thing with the chance but the ‘keeper made a good save.

“I made a decision and I know I should have scored.”

SNS.