WE BELONG AT THE TOP TABLE
Ross insists ambitious Hibs team have got no fears about flying high
THEY haven’t won a lucky dip, been promoted beyond their talents — or simply stumbled into unfamiliar territory by capitalising on the misfortunes of others.
Hibs are at the business end of the Premiership on merit. As they adapt to the altitude and find their belief bolstered by big-game performances, who knows how high they might fly?
Up against hitherto clean-sheet kings Rangers yesterday, the home side did not shrink from the challenge at Easter Road.
If they carry the same intent and ambition with them to Celtic Park on Sunday, they will be more than awkward opponents for the reigning champions.
Yes, they could have lost yesterday; Ofir Marciano’s staggering double-save from Scott Arfield late on was decisive.
Whatever the stats about possession and territory might say, however, Hibs had chances to win this entertaining Sunday lunchtime encounter.
‘In all aspects of the game, we went toe-to-toe with Rangers and they are obviously going to be up there at the end of the season,’ said Hibs boss Jack Ross, whose team remain three points behind the league leaders and two behind second-place Celtic.
‘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 — with good players. I just remind the players constantly of that. I think they’ve grown in belief with every passing game.
‘And we’re going to need that again at Parkhead next week. But, if we produce similar aspects of our game, there’s no reason why we can’t go and take something from that match as well.
‘We’ll not celebrate drawing the (Rangers) game. We genuinely wanted to win the game today and believed we could do so.
‘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. Their performances have shown that. And 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 proud of what they did.’
Rangers were slick in possession but defensively they didn’t look like a side who had just set a new Scottish top-flight record by starting the season with seven straight clean sheets.
Steven Gerrard’s men also had to adapt repeatedly to a changing Hibs formation, Ross revelling in his team’s ability to switch between a back three and flat back four at the flick of a switch.
It kept the visitors guessing. And gave the home side just enough oomph to bag that equaliser from Christian Doidge 19 minutes from time.
Ross explained: ‘We’ve flipped between a back three and a back four before this season. Their willingness to do it during games, their understanding to do it, has been great. You need the personnel to do it and we’ve got that.’
Hibs had a number of stand-out performers, with Kevin Nisbet, Doidge and Martin Boyle doing more than most domestic opponents to unsettle Rangers.
Defensively, Ryan Porteous was physically commanding, while goalkeeper Marciano deserves a double win bonus for those back-to-back saves from Arfield.
‘Ofir’s in a really good place physically and mentally,’ said Ross. ‘That’s reflected in the double stop, in particular. I think he was unfortunate with the second Rangers goal as well — he nearly saved it.
‘But we’ve had a couple of really good opportunities in the second half, as well. I knew the game was going to be like that. The team we had picked, we were going to give up opportunities at times.
‘To take anything from the top teams in the league, you need your goalkeeper to have a good game. Ofir did that today.’
Porteous, looking untroubled by the fact that a number of Rangers players had refused to shake his hand at full-time, is clearly among the true believers in that Hibs dressing room.
Answering a question about the achievement in holding the league leaders to a draw, he pointed out: ‘People have to remember that we are up there as well.
‘I am not saying we are going to challenge for this and that. But we are up there through merit right now — through performances and good results, through keeping clean sheets and scoring goals.
‘We said we were going to cause Rangers problems and we did. When we went 1-0 up we sat in and protected that. We should have had that belief to go and score another one or two. We are disappointed to concede two goals at home but we will take the point.
‘We know that Parkhead will be a different ball game. Celtic’s record there is fantastic. But we have the players in forward areas to hurt them. It will be a difficult task but we will go there with belief.’