Ross ‘really, really proud’ at team going toe-to-toe with the league leaders
Jack Ross could not hide his pride at watching his Hibs team go“toe-to-toe” with Rangers after they held Steven Gerrard’s men to a 2-2 draw at Easter Road.
DreyW right fired Hibs into a 22nd-minute lead, but Alfredo Morelos equalised in first-half stoppage time before Scott Arfield put the visitors ahead on 57 minutes.
Despite coming under increasing pressure, Hibs held firm and scored an equaliser 20 minutes from the end when Christian Do id ge headed home a Martin Boyle cross.
It was the first match this seaso in which Rangers had conceded a goal and Ross hailed his players for standing up to the challenge and executing his game plan.
“We’ll not celebrate drawing the game. We genuinely wanted to win the game today–and believed we could do so,” said Ross.
“The motivation for us was to go joint top of the table. That was a huge one. However, we were playing against a very good team today. Their performances have shown that. They are a hard team to play against, in possession.
“So for my players to show what they did in different sides of the game, and to take something from the game, was very pleasing. I was really, really proud of what they did today.
“I’ve just used that description, going toe-to-toe, inside with the players just now.
Because that’s what we did. Yes, we gave up the ball at times. You are going to do that against a really good side. But, in all aspects of the game we went toe-to-toe with Rangers.
“For us, eight games into the season, to be up where we are, have the points total and be around Rangers and Celtic – that’s because we’re a good side. I just remind the players constantly of that. I think they’ve grown in belief with every passing game.”
Rangers manager Gerrard was left aggrieved by referee Don Robertson not dishing out harsher punishment to Hibs defenders Paul Hanlon and Ryan P or toe us, who were both cautioned for firsthalf clashes with Ianis Hagi
and Morelos respectively. But when asked if he felt his players over-stepped the mark, Ross was firm, stating: “No. I can’t answer it any more clearly than that. No.”
On whether the Hanl on incident was worthy of a red card, he added :“I haven’ t watched it back yet, but I certainly didn’t thinks oat the time.”
Hibs’ next match is against champions Celtic on Sunday .“We’ re going to need that again at Parkhead next week,” said Ross. “But, if we produce similar aspects of our game, there’s no reason why we can’t take something from that match as well.”