Is lightning about to strike
Jake Doyle-hayes knows what it takes to beat Rangers in the League Cup.
He believes you don’t have to just deal with the players in light blue – there’s also a battle to be won within yourself.
The 22- year- old Hibs midfielder was part of the St Mirren team that ensured Steven Gerrard would leave Scottish football without winning the League Cup.
Saints defeated the Ibrox men 3-2 in a dramatic quarter-final tie last December and Doyle-hayes reckons his Hibs’ teammates can take something from his former club’s approach.
He said: “We did it without fear. We tried to stamp our authority on the game and I think we need to do that again.
“We have to go out and express ourselves, and play the way we know that we can play.
“That night with St Mirren was a game of mixed emotions. We were winning, Rangers then equalised in the last couple of minutes and it looked like going to extra-time.
“You think that is going to be tough but we managed to get things together and score the winner.
“It was an unbelievable feeling to knock them out of the cup.”
Having just extended his contract until the summer of 2025, Doyle-hayes would love to celebrate with victory at Hampden in this afternoon’s semi-final.
A booking picked up in that quarterfinal win over Rangers meant he was suspended for St Mirren’s last-four game against Livingston at the start of this year.
He said: “It was tough, It was my first time at Hampden. It’s an unbelievable stadium and I wish I could’ve played in that game.
“There were no fans but there was such
excitement around the whole club building up to the game.
“It was a real disappointment that the lads lost 1-0.
“I learned from that experience – I probably shouldn’t have picked up so many yellow cards.
“But I am back this season with Hibs, so I’m delighted with that.
“This season it’s such a difference with the fans being back.
“I love playing in front of fans, feeling the excitement and they get you going, even if you go a goal down.”
Boss Jack Ross ( inset) is delighted Doyle- Hayes has committed his l o n g - t e rm f u t u re to the club.
He sa i d : “He undoubtedly was a big factor in our start to the season and how we were playing. I think it’s maybe important for people to recognise how much he was affected by Covid.
“He went down with it and wasn’t very well at the time. It did have a longer-lasting effect.
“It’s only in the last two or three games where he’s looked like he’s getting back to his best again.
“He’s still only 22. He is a very young man and I think he can get better and better.
“If he does that, he makes us better as well. It’s a sign that we keep trying to develop good young players – ones we produce on our own, but also ones we take from elsewhere that we think can improve.”
Josh Doig has also put pen to paper on a new deal. The 19-yearold signing a contract running to summer 2026. Ross is in optimistic mood. C ov i d issues
that stopped his side playing for a fortnight seem to be behind them now.
The return of striker Christian Doidge from injury ahead of schedule is also a big boost.
The manager is well aware of the frustration felt by the supporters after their favourites lost in three out of four appearances at Hampden last season.
He said: “We realise there were missed opportunities for us last year and I don’t mean in terms of who we were playing and all that nonsense, I just mean being in semi-finals.
“This is as good an opportunity for us as any last year because it can take us closer to winning something.
“I sense that feeling around the players this week.
“I’ve been really pleased with how they have trained and their mood and mindset going into the game.
“A lot of them recognise they don’t want another chance to slip by them in terms of winning silverware.”