Steven glad Hibs are still in Thicot it

HIBS star Steven Thicot today claimed Derek Riordan's equalising goal against relegation-threatened Falkirk could prove to be one of the most important of the season.

The French defender saw the disappointment etched on the face of each and everyone of his team-mates, still smarting from quick-fire defeats by Hearts and Ross County, as Mark Stewart fired the Bairns into an early lead.

Stewart appeared to have dealt another massive blow to the Easter Road outfit's hopes of Europa League football next season, John Hughes' side having gone into the match with their confidence shredded thanks to a run of just one win in nine matches.

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That record had not only seen the Hibees slip from third to fifth place in the SPL table but crash out of the Active Nation Scottish Cup as they were left stunned by First Division County in their quarter-final replay in Dingwall.

But within two minutes Riordan had struck back, claiming his 15th goal of the season with a trademark free-kick, before Anthony Stokes and Sol Bamba made it three before half-time.

With Euro rivals Dundee United beating Motherwell, the victory saw Hibs jump above the Fir Park side into fourth place while also giving them the chance to continue moving up when they face the Tannadice club in Edinburgh tonight.

Today Thicot insisted the importance of Riordan's latest goal couldn't be under-estimated, the former Nantes player saying: "I think there have been other important goals this season but Deek's strike was vital.

"You could see the disappointment on everyone's faces when they scored. It had been a hard time for us, not just two defeats in four days but losing the derby and going out of the Cup in the last minute of that game.

"We said after that match we had to forget it, to concentrate on the league and try to finish as high up the table as possible. It was a difficult time for us so it was very important we got an equaliser as quickly as possible and thankfully Derek got it right away.

"It lifted our confidence, we showed our character and we got two more goals before half-time to win it which was a terrific result after what had happened."

The win over Falkirk, Hibs' third of the season against the Bairns, ensured the gap between themselves and United remained at just two points, quite remarkable given the Easter Road side's recent record but, nevertheless, offering them an opportunity which Thicot insisted they must seize. And he believes the way United themselves have recovered from a shaky spell following manager Craig Levein's decision to take charge of Scotland, can provide him and his team-mates with the confidence to resurrect their own season.

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A five-match run in which United scored just one goal saw them pick up a solitary point with a 7-1 hammering by Rangers at Ibrox leaving interim boss Peter Houston and his players devastated.

Recently, though, United have been unbeaten in six matches, gaining revenge on Rangers as they fought back from 3-1 down to force their own Scottish Cup quarter-final to a replay which they duly won with a last-minute goal at Tannadice.

Today Thicot admitted he had nothing but admiration for tomorrow night's opponents saying: "Since I arrived in Scotland at the start of last season Dundee United have been a strong team. They never, ever give up are always hard to play against and are mentally tough as they have shown.

"I think when they were beaten 7-1 many people thought that would finish their season off but they've shown their character by bouncing back to be in third place."

With only eight matches remaining, Thicot knows full well Hibs' margin for error is diminishing as each game passes, heightening the importance of tonight's clash.

Although a draw wouldn't be fatal to Hibs' hopes a victory for United would push Houston's players five points ahead and make them red-hot favourites to finish third, the position the Easter Road outfit occupied for much of the season before their recent slump.

It's a scenario, however, which Thicot simply refused to contemplate. He said: "We have to prove tonight we want third more than them.

"A draw wouldn't be the end of the world but we are playing every game to win and this is one we have to win."

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Although he wouldn't say as much, Thicot will also be approaching tonight's match hoping for a measure of revenge after being forced to wait until mid-January for his first appearance of the season only to end up on the losing side at Tannadice.

Leith boy Danny Swanson's goal was enough to earn United victory that day, Thicot again finding himself consigned to the bench until his shock return at right-back for the derby in Gorgie 11 days ago.

Now, having held down that position since, Thicot has his fingers crossed Hughes will again give him the nod even although he admits right-back isn't his preferred berth, revealing the clash with Hearts was the first time he'd ever started a game there.

The 23-year-old said: "I'd played left-back with the French national side when I was 16 but then I played centre-half or centre midfield. But this isn't my first year in football, I've watched lots of right-backs playing so I will try to do my best for the team.

"United play with two quick small wingers in Swanson and Craig Conway but you have to deal with every player you come up against.

"It is 11 against 11, and hopefully you win most of your one-on-ones.

"I've had to wait a long time this season for the chance to play so I am determined to give everything I have to stay in the team.

"I've worked hard in training every day, now there's only eight games to go so I want to play my part in helping us get that third place."

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Tonight's match will be shown "as live" on BBC Alba at 10pm in a programme which will include Hughes and Famous Five legend Lawrie Reilly discussing how Easter Road, where temporary floodlights will be in operation following the demolition of the east terracing, has changed over the years.