Jack Ross explains Hibs plan of attack for post-split fixtures

Advancing towards the post-split fixtures, Hibs primary objective is protecting their third-place status, says manager Jack Ross.

Seven points better off than challengers Aberdeen, with a superior goal difference, they are away to the Pittodrie side on May 12, by which time the Capital outfit are hoping they will have cemented only their third top-three finish of the millennium.

However, that achievement could be delayed by the scheduling of the head-to-head with Rangers at the resumption of Premiership duties.

With the league action on hold due to the international break and then Scottish Cup third-round ties, Hibs face this season’s unbeaten champions on April 3 and while it will be a tough task, Ross says there is no point in worrying about the way the fixtures have landed.

Hibs manager Jack Ross says the order of post-split fixtures has not distracted his team from their primary ambitions. Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group

“I didn’t really have a preference in the way the games came out,” explained the Hibees boss. “We will start with the most difficult one because we are away to the champions but our performances this season against them will give us optimism in terms of how close previous matches have been.

“It is a difficult one to start with but sometimes it is better to just get the most difficult one out of the way and I still believe we can go there and win the game and I am looking forward to it coming around because they are always good games and, as a group, will take confidence from the way we have performed this season.

“I suppose I knew what to expect in terms of the home and away split and what I felt would happen, did happen, in terms of the games already played and having Aberdeen and Rangers away from home and Celtic, Livingston and St Johnstone games at Easter Road.

“In terms of the order they come, you can over complicate it or over think it but that’s the make-up of the games and the order they come in and I don’t think it really matters. It is not important for us. We know the position we are in and the important thing for us is to try to finish in that position as well.”

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