Brewster: Ross County have the belief to beat Hibs

Published on Saturday 20 March 2010 20:11

EIGHT DAYS ago Craig Brewster was an engrossed spectator, watching from the technical area as Ross County forced goal-line clearances and brave goalkeeping from their SPL hosts Hibs. It was the Dingwall side's first ever Scottish Cup quarter-final and they were good value for a winner, having twice fought back from a goal down and then grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. The winner didn't come but the plaudits did.

"We were so pleased with their spirit and desire, the way the boys approached that game and the way they played on the day," says Brewster, assistant manager to Derek Adams. "The longer the game went on, I wasn't worried about losing it, because the way the boys were playing we could see they were well up for it.

"But what we have to remember going into the replay is the way Hibs defended in the final part of that match. They were throwing everything at the ball, bodies, legs, everything to prevent a goal. Ian Murray cleared off the line, and Graham Stack took one shot right on the coupon but hardly even blinked, he was straight back on his feet to make sure he was ready for anyone following up. So while we did play well and our hunger and desire was obvious, so was theirs at the end. They did not want to lose that game."

The teams will now settle matters at Victoria Park on Tuesday night and, from experience, Brewster knows how much Hibs will be desperate to swat them down. As a former player for the Easter Road side, he knows how deep the longing is for Scottish Cup success in Leith and is well aware that, given Hibs' avoidance of facing top-tier teams thus far in this year's competition, many have pinned their hopes on 15 May as being the day the club ends its 108-year wait to lift the trophy.

"The pressure is still all on Hibs," he says. "They are the SPL team but as we proved the last time, we are a match for them on our day and now we have to prove that again. Hibs don't have a great record in the Highlands and the pressure is huge to do something in the Scottish Cup, it always is at clubs like Hibs and Aberdeen, where they have been waiting too long as far as the supporters are concerned. They desperately want cup success but nothing is guaranteed in life and we are not here to make things easy for them.

"Maybe it will be Hibs' year, but it has already been more than 100 years and every year it gets further away so maybe it's just not meant to be and maybe it will actually be our year," he adds.

In recent years there has certainly been a precedent set for lower-league teams usurping supposedly superior opposition. Teams such as Gretna and Queen of the South have defied league status to contest the season finale, proving no SPL side has a God-given right of progress. "Raith Rovers are already in the semi-finals and we want to join them," says Brewster. "Every footballer wants to play in a final."

And he dismisses the general belief that underdogs rarely succeed in replays, saying it can happen if the same application and desire is evident. While not quite a David and Goliath situation, he recalls the year Dundee United went on to win the cup, in 1994, his goal in the final against Rangers settling matters. It is the match against Aberdeen in the semi-final, though, which offers inspiration. The Pittodrie side were challenging Rangers for the title that term, while United were pottering about mid-table. Yet they drew the match at Pittodrie and, returning to their own ground, they got the win which sent them into the final. "So it can be done. No-one expected us to win that replay, but we did. The boys just need to be hungry enough because they are good enough and fit enough."

The mental and physical stamina will play a major role in the way the Highland side's season climaxes. In the course of seven days they have three games which will go a long way to determining things, in league and cup. Promotion to the SPL remains the primary focus, locked as they are in a tight tussle for the First Division title, but the Scottish Cup is another high to be savoured.

"It's great for the club because at this stage of the season, for some clubs, there's not always an awful lot at stake. I spoke to one fan and they said this time last season we were in the lower echelons of the league, fighting to avoid going down. This season, here we are, pushing to go as high as we can and throwing in a little cup excitement as well.

"They have deserved a lot of plaudits but it's not over yet. We all have to keep working and proving those plaudits are deserved. But we are still hungry and still have a desire to do well in every game."

If the performance at Easter Road as not warning enough, that kind of statement should serve as a quick reminder to anyone assuming that Hibs' name is already etched on the cup.

CUP REPLAYS

Tuesday

Ross County v Hibernian, 7.45pm

Wednesday

Dundee United v Rangers, 7.45pm live on Sky Sports 2

Semi-final draw

Celtic v Hibernian or Ross County Sat 10 April, 12.15pm, live on Sky Sports

Rangers or Dundee United v Raith Rovers Sun 11 April, 3pm