Six things Jack Ross needs to address in Hibs team after Hearts defeat

Picking up the pieces from an Edinburgh derby defeat is never an easy task, especially when it's a cup semi-final and the odds appeared to be stacked in the losing team's favour.

Jack Ross has to pick his team up ahead of Friday's trip to Aberdeen

Ordinarily, the league season would be nearing an end with only a handful of games left to play. For Hibs and Jack Ross, there is still a lot to play for.

Focus on Aberdeen

A trip to Pittodrie on a Friday night less than a week after being dumped out the cup at the penultimate hurdle by your rivals is the proverbial double-edged sword.

Win, and confidence will be restored among the players and supporters and the team would move up to second. Lose, and not only do the Dons retake third spot, belief may be flagging ahead of a run of tough games against Dundee, Celtic, St Johnstone, and Motherwell.

A draw wouldn't be the worst result but if this team is serious about outperforming its recent predecessors, three points must be the target.

Reinvigorate Martin Boyle

There isn't a defender or manager in Scotland unaware of Martin Boyle's threat. Pacy, and with an eye for goal, he is a handful. But the Australian internationalist has only really impacted three league games so far this term: the opening day win against Kilmarnock in which he scored both goals; the 3-0 win at St Mirren (one goal and one assist) and the 2-2 draw with Rangers (assists for both goals).

Hibs and Jack Ross need Martin Boyle to be firing on all cylinders once again

It isn't that Hibs are a one-man team - far from it - but Hibs and Ross really need the effervescent winger to start firing on all cylinders once more.

Think about changing it up...

Ahead of the semi-final, the main talking point was who would play left midfield. The remaining starting positions picked themselves.

While it's advantageous to have a settled team, have Hibs lost the element of surprise?

It may be that the semi-final defeat prompts Ross into shaking up his team selection and tactics to make Hibs less predictable in soe areas of the pitch.

...but don't make wholesale changes

One or two tweaks might help revitalise the team but don't expect multiple changes on Friday. One of the main reasons behind the performances to date is the team being settled. Players know what team-mates are going to do and where they are going to be and that level of understanding is crucial.

While previous managers might have shuffled the pack it's unlikely Ross will get the tombola out any time soon.

Trust in Kevin Nisbet

The 23-year-old had an off-day at the national stadium and post-match, Ross referenced a "challenging personal period" for the striker, praising him for coming through it and still playing.

The striker will be itching to atone for the missed penalty and it wouldn't be at all surprising to see him back on the scoresheet on Friday night.

Check for a clause in Fraser Murray's loan deal

The midfielder joined Dunfermline on a season-long loan recently and in six games for the Pars he has scored two goals in just 319 minutes of playing time.

Only five of Hibs' 17 goals this season have been scored by players not operating as centre-forwards and if Murray keeps finding the net, the phone might soon be ringing at East End Park.

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