Alan urges his Leith troops to earn their own luck for once

ALAN STUBBS has urged his Hibs players to make their own luck when they entertain champions Hearts in the final Edinburgh derby of the season.

Although 26 points separate the teams going into today’s game, the derby has been a tight affair this term with Hearts edging the first encounter 2-1 then securing two 1-1 draws.

Alim Ozturk’s spectacular stoppage-time equaliser at Easter Road was a particularly sore blow for Hibs but manager Stubbs (below) insists his players cannot afford to enter today’s match thinking they are due a dose of good fortune.

‘I think you make your own breaks,’ said Stubbs. ‘If you think that way you could be waiting a long time. Whatever has gone on in the last three games has happened but this is completely different.

‘We have one team which has achieved what they wanted, so in a way the pressure is off them. Then you have us, playing at home, wanting to get a result against our biggest rivals.’

Beyond city bragging rights, Hibs have a far more important goal in the shape of promotion. Beating Rangers to second place and thereby shortening their play-off schedule is a priority and Stubbs acknowledges that victory today would instil confidence as they bid join their local rivals in the Premiership next season.

‘As a group of players and staff — and I include myself in that — we need to come through these big games,’ continued Stubbs. ‘We have won three games against Rangers and I would say that is quite significant. We have won twice at Ibrox, so we have already proven that point.

‘We haven’t proved it against Hearts so it would be nice to give the players an extra bit of confidence going into the last stage of the season.’