'We collapsed, we did not believe, we just gave up' - Martin Boyle's scathing assessment of Hibs' loss to Aberdeen

Winger admits team has to be mentally stronger

Martin Boyle cuts a dejected figure as he leaves the Pittodrie pitch with Paul McGinn after the 3-1 loss

Martin Boyle has delivered a withering assessment of Hibs’ defeat by Aberdeen, admitting Jack Ross’s players “just gave up” after Adam Jackson’s own goal had hauled the Dons level.

Jackson’s misfortune cancelled out Christian Doidge’s 18th goal of the season and was quickly followed by a second from Andy Considine before Curtis Main completed what was a second back-to-back 3-1 loss within the space of five days for the capital outfit.

Boyle conceded that the dismissal of Steven Whittaker, the veteran picking up two yellow cards for fouls on Aberdeen midfielder Lewis Ferguson, had been a pivotal point in a game in which Hibs were comfortably defending Doidge’s first-half strike.

But after Whittaker headed for that early bath, just ten minutes after the interval, Hibs had, admitted Boyle, “collapsed”.

The Australian international winger said: “We worked so hard for the 60 minutes to stay in the game, we had the lead, good opportunities and then, just like that, it can happen, red cards. I think it affected us massively, we collapsed, we did not stay strong, we did not believe.

“When we conceded the first one I think we just gave up. We got a bit ragged, fell away and lost the game. Pittodrie is a tough place to go but I thought we were doing well. Doidgey had one shot saved on the line, we had great chances, he scored a great goal and we believed we would go on and win.

“But things happened that affected us and I think mentally we have to get over that, be stronger as a group if it happens again.”

Head coach Ross had confessed to a sense of frustration over the yellow cards, insisting he wasn’t arguing against those shown to Whittaker but “some of the ones that weren’t given over the course of the game”.

Although he was adamant the sending off was a pivotal moment, it was still possible to win with ten men, a point illustrated by the fact the last time the teams had played at Pittodrie, the Dons had both Main and Ferguson sent off but still managed to claim a last-minute equaliser.

Boyle agreed, saying: “I felt there were a few dodgy decisions. I feel for the referee (John Beaton), but it’s no excuse. We have a responsibility on the pitch if that happens, but we never stood up.

“We lost a goal straight away, they were moving the ball and we were getting dragged out the place. It did affect the game but I think we should stay stronger and be more resolute and maybe we’d have had a chance. But I think we just gave up and accepted the game was gone.”

Callum Hendry’s late winner for St Johnstone hauled the Perth side to within a point of sixth-placed Hibs with Tommy Wright’s side due at Easter Road on Saturday for a match which Boyle admitted was “massive” in terms of finishing in the upper half of the Ladbrokes Premiership table.

But while critical of how he and his team-mates had performed against Hearts and then Aberdeen, Boyle still believes Hibs can make it.

He said: “We’ve been there the last couple of seasons and we want to achieve it again. We want to be in there and we believe we have the squad to do it. Saturday was a great opportunity and we didn’t take it.

“But off the back of a bad week, we can correct it on Saturday. We’ll prepare right for what is a massive game. We want to finish top six and push even further. There’s more games to be played and I’m sure there will be more twists and turns. Everyone is capable of beating everyone else so we hope we can get the three points and look up again.

“There’s people chasing us, but we are also chasing others. It was a quiet dressing room at Pittodrie, only the gaffer spoke, but we’ll analyse it during the week and we’ll be ready.”