Ivan Sproule admits Hibs are the feeling the pressure

By DAVID HARDIE
Published on Thursday 23 February 2012 12:03

Ivan SPROULE today admitted the pressure was beginning to tell on struggling Hibs as they remain locked in a desperate battle with Dunfermline to avoid relegation.

But the winger insisted no-one at Easter Road was throwing in the towel, adamant there is still all to play for even if the remaining few weeks of the season promise to be a “tough slog”.

Although they have lost an astonishing 54 goals in their 27 SPL matches so far, Hibs remain just ahead of the Pars on goal difference and have a game in hand after both sides crashed to defeat again last night, the Capital side going down in a seven-goal thriller at Motherwell while Dunfermline lost 2-0 at champions-elect Celtic.

Sproule, though, described the fact Hibs had scored three at Fir Park and yet emerged empty-handed as “criminal.”

Isaiah Osbourne had Hibs ahead at half-time with his first goal for the club but there were an incredible six more after the interval with Motherwell striker Michael Higdon claiming a hat-trick.

Two of them came from the penalty spot, with team-mate Jamie Murphy also on target, while Matt Doherty and Sproule netted for Hibs who have now lost 13 goals in their last four league matches.

Sproule said: “We are not really giving ourselves a chance with the way we are defending some of the goals. We are bottom of the league for a reason, we only have 19 points for a reason and that’s because we have not been good enough all season.

“I am not shying away, I am as much to blame as anyone else, no-one is turning round and saying they are not at fault. Everyone in the changing room is taking responsibility. It’s going to be a tough slog between now and the end of the season, but what do you do? Throw in the towel? We are still on the same points as Dunfermline, we have a better goal difference so there is all to play for.”

However, Sproule conceded the relentless grind of trying to haul themselves out of trouble was exacting a toll. He said: “You can definitely feel the pressure. It’s probably the first time for a lot of the lads to be in the position of scrapping in a relegation battle.

“We’ve probably not had much experience of it but what we do know is our livelihoods are at stake. I for one know what I have to lose for my family.

“It’s not easy at all. You want to play and be on top of our game but when you are down around the bottom and things are not going your way it’s hard to get that free-flowing football. We’ve let each other down, let the gaffer down and most importantly let the fans down again. But I’d plead with them to stay with us because they will play a massive part between now and the end of the season.”

Sproule, meantime, is set to miss the Edinburgh derby against Hearts at Tynecastle on March 18 after collecting his sixth booking of the SPL season last night.

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There are 16 comments to this article

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16

m6jambo

Friday, February 24, 2012 at 01:01 PM

2 A tube of the highest order,what part of bottom equal and Hearts humping hibvermin all the time dont you get.MUPPPPEEEET.

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15

WBB

Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:44 AM

Sorry price is 4 to 1 not 41. What to do, what to do......

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14

WBB

Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:42 AM

Hibs fans please advise. Down here in good ol Oz there is a horse running tomorrow at the local track, Ascot, called Hibernian. I have been watching it for a few weeks now and, after a bad run of losses and then a third place, it looks as though a win is on the cards. Its price is 41 and to eb honest it looks a good bet. However as a diehard Jambo what do I do? Bet or no bet.

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13

Hammy1874

Friday, February 24, 2012 at 07:38 AM

6.............. the only sensible post on here!! Pat is never the man for the job.... well, as a Hearts fan maybe he is perfect for the job!

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12

Baldrick

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:11 PM

Pending relegation

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11

Monkey Spanner

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:50 PM

(9) Why are you posting on a Green thread, are you just a daft wee man, not an ounce of scoot in your head,

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10

MrHibs07-1973

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 09:33 PM

Comment removed by moderator

9

Dragonlord

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:18 PM

1# Mixu, Are you seriously still on about Hearts demise? Hibs are in deep trouble and I think their fans need to rally round before it's too late. Posting rubbish on here about Hearts won't stop you going down.

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8

MrHibs07-1973

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 07:12 PM

Comment removed by moderator

7

Robbo27Hammerof the hibs

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 03:57 PM

#1,2,3, mixu i was going to have a go at you but remembered about care in the community there there have a lie down

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6

chesser cat

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 02:23 PM

Please ,please ,please Ivan DO throw in the towell, the one that is seated on the bench while these new whizz kids continue to make fools of themselves. The end result now is just lottery, down to fate, no matter how much bragging is done in the media by Sproule and others. Every manager needs support, but the more it goes on you wonder if throwing in a novice was the right idea at this time..Remember Stephen Kenny at Dunfermline some years ago. Are the board willing to accept relegation in order to start afresh ?? Unthinkable.

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5

Portsmouth 657

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:38 PM

Whats that coming over the hill? Its Relegation!

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4

Portsmouth 657

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:37 PM

Are hibs going to even try to win a match?

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3

Mixu 6-2

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:20 PM

Is this the same hearts team to split the ugly sisters...................hahahahahahahaha........................gers have even given you a ten point start........................hahahahahahaha.

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2

Mixu 6-2

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:19 PM

Bring on the derby......................hahahahahahearts v hibs...........

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