Hibs boss says his players have to heed the positives despite Celtic fightback

Hibs manager Jack Ross during his side's Premiership draw with Celtic at Easter Road. Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group

And he said that it was a sign of how far they had come as a club that the players were gutted with a share of the points against a team that is going for their 10th successive league title.

“[Disappointment] is the obvious emotion because of the way the game finishes and the position we were in but it’s up to me to accentuate the positives in our performance and what we put into the game was good and we were deservedly ahead. We feel we had done enough to win the game so it is difficult to see past the frustration because it is very raw just now.”

Going ahead in the 52nd minute, when Jamie Murphy pounced on Kevin Nisbet’s penalty rebound to open the scoring, the striker also got himself on the scoresheet minutes later when his diagonal strike beat Scott Bain. Hibs looked like they would go on to win the contest but Neil Lennon’s men rallied and netted twice in the final 12 minutes to equalise.

“I said to them that while they will be frustrated and disappointed, they also have to recognise that they are playing against some very good players.”

While he was happy to see Murphy bag the rebound and Nisbet ultimately get on the scoresheet himself, he admitted that he may have to rethink the striker’s position as the team penalty taker, having also missed against Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi final.

“I think he is claiming an assist! Because Potts [assistant manager John Potter] looks after set pieces, when we got the penalty he said that Kevin wanted to take it again and I was ok with that but we might have a wee rethink now.

Jamie’s finish was excellent, though, and the good thing for Kevin is that he goes on later in the game to produce a moment of real quality as well.”