Michael Weir: Pressure will only grow so Hibs need to secure third place as soon as possible

I hope Hibs do not get to the end of the season and end up looking back on games like Saturday’s defeat to Motherwell with regrets.

Jordan Roberts scores to make it 1-0 to Motherwell during the Scottish Premiership match win over Hibs at Easter Road on Saturday. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

That was the chance to open up a seven point gap on Aberdeen and with a game in hand that would have given them a decent amount of breathing space with just eight games to go. They didn’t get going and that kind of performance is what has baffled the fans this season.

There is still a lot of football to be played and because Aberdeen didn’t get any points at Parkhead, Hibs are still in a good position but if they let it go all the way to the wire and end up throwing it away and missing out on third place, those are the kind of games they will look back on.

No-one said the games against Motherwell or Ross County and Livingston would be easy but earlier in the season they were finding ways to win those kind of games and they looked to have rediscovered that in the last few weeks – but there were warning signs against Hamilton.

But, they didn’t learn from that and on Saturday, Motherwell looked hungrier. They looked like a side with something to fight for and they went about their business in the right way, so credit to them for that. But Hibs have so much to fight for too and it was disappointing that they could not match Motherwell.

Hibs have had a good season and it would be a tremendous achievement to finish third but it would be really dangerous for anyone at Hibs to think the job is already done.

They have let themselves down a few times at home and that is disappointing. I just hope those games don’t prove costly.

They have to believe they can still finish second but they will have to earn that. No-one will hand it to them. It is going to be difficult and the last thing they want is for it to go all the way to the wire. The pressure will grow with every game, so the sooner they can get the job done the better. But, they will have to perform better than they did last weekend when they head to Perth on Saturday.

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