ROSS HAS SIGHTS SET ON THIRD-PLACE FINISH

HIBERNIAN manager Jack Ross admits his side have their sights set on third place in the Premiership after winning at Kilmarnock yesterday. Sixth-placed Hibs are just five points off Aberdeen and Motherwell after yesterday’s victory at Rugby Park and Ross acknowledged that the chance of qualifying for Europe will be an added incentive going into the latter months of the season. ‘I’ve always wanted us to push as high as we could and the fact that’s even been talked about is testament to what the group has done over the last three months,’ said Ross. ‘It’s an exciting period for us. We’ve some good league games against the teams around us and then a Scottish Cup quarter-final. ‘We knew this was a defining part of the season and at the moment we’re going the right way about it.’ Meanwhile, Ross has been enthused by the contribution of Greg Docherty following the midfielder’s loan from Ibrox in the January transfer window. Docherty netted his second goal for Hibs as he opened the scoring at Rugby Park, with Ross applauding the seamless manner of his addition. ‘You never know how quickly anyone will settle,’ he said. ‘It is a new group and in mid-season you don’t have a lot of time to bed in with people. But I saw him first hand last season in England and I thought again he’d improved as a player. ‘He’s brought something we needed — an all round box-to-box type. ‘He’s been terrific. His level of performance in every game has been really good and he’s enjoying his football. ‘His all-round general fitness is outstanding. He’s incredibly dedicated to what he does and looks after himself. He’s never looked like he’s flagging and that’s testament to his professionalism and all round fitness.’ Kilmarnock manager Alex Dyer has insisted the Rugby Park side need to recover from the defeat ahead of Wednesday night’s Scottish Cup replay against Aberdeen. ‘We’re still in a good place,’ he said. ‘It’s one defeat, so just like Wednesday when we did well (against Rangers) we didn’t get too over-excited and just like when we lose we’re not going to be too deflated. We have to go again.’