Jack Ross: Hibs now in a position to make a significant statement as he delivers Jackson Irvine update

Hibs players swarm matchwinner Martin Boyle as they moved five points ahead of their main rivals, Aberdeen, in the chase for third place. Photo by Ross Parker / SNS GroupHibs players swarm matchwinner Martin Boyle as they moved five points ahead of their main rivals, Aberdeen, in the chase for third place. Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group
Hibs players swarm matchwinner Martin Boyle as they moved five points ahead of their main rivals, Aberdeen, in the chase for third place. Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group
Hibs boss Jack Ross says he can feel a positive energy within the group after his side made it three wins in a week to put daylight between themselves and Aberdeen in the chase for third place.

But he says the result will only mean something if the Easter Road club can maintain their position and serve up the club’s highest top tier finish in 16 seasons.

“It will only be significant if we go on to finish where we are in the table at the moment,” said the Leith manager. “As a club we haven’t been in this type of position often enough in the last 20-odd years so we’re driven to try and succeed in that respect.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ve spoken a lot in recent weeks about the importance of results at this stage of the season and we got that but equally we got a big performance in a big game so it’s really pleasing.

“Recent form is four wins from five which is good from us. I think we look strong again as a group. We had a lot of individual players dip at the same time five or six weeks ago but i think they are all looking sharp and bright which is a good sign for us.”

Martin Boyle stepped up to convert a first-half penalty and then struck again in the 68th minute to make it a personal haul of four goals in three games.

“He’s looked back to his best in recent weeks again,” said Ross. “He’s had some personal issues and we left him out a few weeks ago and I think he benefited from that rest mentally as well as physically. He’s settled a lot now and bringing Chris to the squad has allowed us to free him up higher up the pitch. I think he suited the game today and he was bright throughout. He might be frustrated he didn’t get a hat-trick but his contribution to the game was excellent.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The only disappointment were shoulder injuries to both Jackson Irvine and Alex Gogic.

“They were both impact injuries but there is no dislocation. They’re a bit sore and stiff and we’ll see how they recover.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1873
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice