Eoin Doyle upbeat after defeat but says Hibs need ‘ugly’ streak

By STUART BATHGATE
Published on 17/12/2012 00:00

HIBS striker Eoin Doyle said after Saturday’s home defeat by Motherwell that confidence at the club remains high. Doyle’s two goals counted for nothing as Motherwell fought back to win 3-2, but the Irishman said his team were sure they could rectify their faults and start to pick up wins again.

“I wouldn’t say confidence is fragile,” Doyle said. “We know we’re a good team and are still in a good position in the league regardless of this result.

“The league’s very tight and I’m sure we can come out the other end of it. We could have gone second and now we’re fourth. But back-to-back wins and you could be right back up there.”

Doyle and fellow-striker Leigh Griffiths were both substituted as Hibs tried to hold on to their lead, but he refused to blame those switches for the loss of all three points. “I was disappointed, but not for being taken off – it’s the way I played myself.

“I scored two goals but I don’t think I played particularly well in the second half. I’m more disappointed in myself than the decision.

“We switched off when we scored the second goal and didn’t see it out. We weren’t really ugly enough. We should have been uglier in terms of winning tackles and trying to run down the clock. It just didn’t click after the second goal went in.

“The thinking behind going five in the middle, at the time, was so we could see it out. In the past we have seen out games like that. It didn’t work out in the end, but these things happen.

“It’s a massive blow. We shouldn’t even have been fighting for a draw out there, and it’s disappointing not to come away with at least a point. We just seemed to fold.”

Jamie Murphy, who scored twice for Motherwell before substitute Bob McHugh grabbed the winner, said his own team played a lot better after going two goals down.