Being top of the bill gives Stubbs thrill
APRECIOUS day off, delayed until the end of the transfer window, allowed Alan Stubbs some longawaited time with his family on Merseyside earlier this week.
Gaining maximum value from the trip, he also popped into Goodison to see his beloved Everton dish out a 3-0 thumping to Newcastle.
An enjoyable affair, for sure. But Stubbs would argue the spectacle into which he is about to be thrust has far more audience appeal than some r un- of- t he mill Barclays Premier League games.
The Hibs boss is confident tomorrow’s Scottish Cup trip to Tynecastle will produce i ntense action capable of engrossing armchair fans across the UK.
Starved of capital derbies this term after his side were unable to follow Hearts up last season, Stubbs can’t wait to put on a show in pursuit of the sweetest possible quarter-final place.
‘Whenever you see a major broadcaster wanting the game, whether it’s Sky or BT, that tells you there is a clamour for it nationwide, not just across Scotland,’ he insisted.
‘I’ve had a few people comment on how good our games have been against Rangers, and how they’re looking forward to these games. They said they enjoyed them more than some Premier League games.
‘ These matches have a bit of everything. Obviously the football is good, there’s blood and thunder, some old fashioned challenges flying in. There’s a great atmosphere — and there certainly will be on Sunday.
‘That all reverberates through the TV screens. We can’t wait and I’m sure Robbie (Neilson) and all the fans can’t either. How much have we missed the derby? You only have to look at the people here today and the people who’d have been at Robbie’s press conference.
‘Sky see it as the tie of the round. That tells you everything. We want them to become regular fixtures again. Hearts got promoted last season and we want promotion this season.’
Hibs hope to claim their second win at Tynecastle in eight days. Their fans dominated the venue for last weekend’s League Cup semi-final success over St Johnstone. It will be a little different tomorrow.
Stubbs won one, l ost one and drew two of the four derby meetings with Neilson in l ast s eason’s Championship. A decent record, but he is also respectful of how far Hearts have progressed since then.
‘I think both teams are stronger than last season,’ he argued. ‘Hearts have got stronger and are having a really good season.
‘We have got stronger and it’s two teams going into a derby in really good form. If I wanted to be selfish I think they’d be slight favourites because they have home advantage. If we were playing at Easter Road I’d class us as favourites.’
The physical power of Hearts has been an oft- debated topic, but Stubbs (below) is adamant it’s not his primary concern.
‘I don’t necessarily believe Hearts have had results this season just because of their size and stature. Yes, they have quite a lot of height in the team and that’s something we have to be aware of. But they have good players and I am more focused on that than anything else. You have to be able to win games in different ways.’
Hibs beat three Premiers hi p opponents — Aberdeen, Dundee United and St John- stone — en route to reaching the League Cup Final. This would surely be their most significant triumph yet for a team still battling Rangers for Championship supremacy.
‘When we faced Aberdeen that was an indication of where we were,’ said Stubbs. ‘Dundee United was a bit different because of where they were in the league and results. Being at home helped us against those teams.
‘Sunday will be a big test but one I think the players will come through admirably, no matter what.’
Stubbs revealed he has planned to face a Hearts line-up both with and without Osman Sow. But it’s his own forward line that is giving him most food for thought.
Adding Anthony Stokes, who scored on Scottish Cup duty for Celtic at Tynecastle last season, has given him another big-game option.
‘I’m pleased the way he’s settled,’ he said of the striker, who has scored in each of his two appearances since agreeing a loan switch. ‘You’d think he’d been here six months, not three weeks. That’s the type of guy he is.
‘Big players bring a buzz with them. He’s certainly brought that, not just to t he c l ub but to t he dressing room. ‘We just need to make sure he’s ready and raring to go because he’s going to have a big say in
the run-in.’