Why a top-six finish for Hibs would feel like anything but success as star man makes 'not looking back' claim
Former Aberdeen attacker McGrath closing in on personal goals target
Securing a place in the top six may be considered a decent start. But it’s not enough. Not for anyone at Hibs. Not now, anyway.
In the wake of a shock Scottish Cup exit, David Gray’s men are most definitely expected to redouble their efforts on the league front. Which means climbing that Scottish Premiership table – and gate-crashing the battle for some of the more prestigious European prizes on offer via league placing.
Falkirk next in firing line today
Currently sitting fifth after 22 games, a full ten points clear of seventh-placed Dundee United, Hibs are looking more than likely to still be in the top half of the table come the SPFL split after round 33. An away win over Falkirk this afternoon, a necessity on grounds of morale alone after the crushing despair in Dunfermline last weekend, would see them go eight points clear of the sixth-placed Bairns.
But Jamie McGrath is adamant that Hibs cannot be looking over their shoulders. And, asked if a top-six finish should be considered a success, he was blunt in his response.
“No, we're not looking back at all,” said the Irishman. “We're trying to catch the team ahead of us. That's our goal. At the minute, it's Motherwell, so we have to try and catch them if we can.
“We obviously know the importance of top six. If we get a result tomorrow, it'll put us in a good position. Obviously Falkirk are the team directly below us, so it's a big game for us.
“We can put a bit of distance between us and them, while also hopefully trying to catch teams above us. We'll keep that run going for as long as we can. Between now and the end of the season, you don't know where it could take you.”
Finishing third last season raised expectations around Hibs, who had serious ambitions to lift silverware this year, according to McGrath. As for what might now be considered success in a campaign of contrasting emotions, the former Aberdeen creative spark isn’t willing to get specific.
“I don't know, that's up to other people to judge,” he said, adding: “Personally, we want to finish as high as we can.
“Obviously, try and get into Europe again, no matter what that will look like. We need to try and keep this run going.
“As disappointing as last week was, we have to look forward now. It's tough to do, but it's the only thing you can do in football. You can't dwell on the past.
“Obviously, our fans will be hurting and so are we. We had big plans in the Cup this season and everything that goes with that, big ties, going to Hampden.
“I was there last year. It's unbelievable. To go out at the first hurdle was a tough blow for everybody at the club.
“Now all we can do is try to put it right tomorrow. Like you said, keep that run going. The boys did it last season and it showed where you could end up.
McGrath in ‘Hearts are flying’ admission
“Momentum is a big thing. You see that with Hearts at the minute. They're flying. They probably feel like they can't lose a game or that.
“We kind of had it a bit last year at Aberdeen at the start of the season. We went on that run.
“It's a lot of different things. It's confidence. It's belief. It's a number of things.
“Sometimes luck goes with you and sometimes it doesn't. Five unbeaten now. Even though there were a few draws in there that we probably should have got three points in. A big month ahead now.
“We have some really tasty games to look forward to. There's a lot to be positive about and look forward to.
“Yeah, it was obviously a very damaging result for us last weekend. We had plans to go far, if not try and get some silverware this season.
“Ultimately we were very, very disappointed. Being on the pitch, you obviously feel that disappointment, not being able to change the result.
“To lose it the way we did makes it even worse, but the beauty is we have a game now on Saturday to forward to, five now unbeaten. We'll be looking to go over there and keep that run going.
“We always assess every game, no matter what, good or bad, on a Monday morning. Nothing changed in that aspect. It's all about looking forward now.
“We have to try and stay in the mix, try and keep catching our team ahead of us if we can. That's our goal now at the minute. Like I touched on, five games unbeaten. We want to try and keep that run going now for as long as we can.”
On a personal note, McGrath is closing in on his own individual scoring target for the season. Slowed down slightly by having to fill in at left wingback because of injuries, the attacking midfielder has eight goals two thirds of the way through his first season as a Hibee.
“It's probably double figures, to be honest,” he said, when asked about his target. “Try to get to double figures and go from there after that. I think I'm two off it now, so hopefully I can stay fit between now and the end of the season and hopefully hit that sooner rather than later.”