Calderwood hails Lewis and David

The duo, both bit-part players this season, formed the spine of Calderwood’s team in Glasgow on Saturday and helped the Easter Road side to a goalless draw in the SPL.

Stevenson had only once turned in more than 45 minutes in a match prior to the encounter at Parkhead, while Stephens made just his fifth start of the campaign in Glasgow’s East End.

But, Calderwood was sufficiently impressed by the pair’s ball-winning skills to express his pleasure with their performance.

The Hibs boss said: “We were terrific right through the centre of the team – Lewis Stevenson and David Stephens. Those two especially are a great example, they were able to get the ball back for us, halfway in our own half and around the centre circle.

“Saturday was almost perfect. You could still gain three points and that becomes the perfect result. But I’m really pleased. I’m delighted with the development of the team and the control we were able to show in our own play. That control really came to the fore in the second half. It was an example of what they can do and the threat they can pose when we do the right things.”

Calderwood drew no little hope from Hibs’ display against the green half of the Old Firm and urged his players to raise their expectations in future matches against a similar standard of opponent.

“[Saturday] was a display that showed we can certainly compete with them better than we have done before,” said