Hibs boss urges team to ditch away blues by beating Celtic

Published on Friday 9 May 2008 10:26

MIXU PAATELAINEN today admitted there would be no better time for Hibs to end their away-day hoodoo by dumping SPL champions Celtic on Sunday.

The Easter Road outfit make the daunting trip to Glasgow fully aware that they've only enjoyed four league wins on the road all season, a record Paatelainen insists must change.

But with a win over Gordon Strachan's side in Edinburgh and a draw on their last visit to Celtic Park, Paatelainen believes pulling off what would be regarded by many as a shock win isn't beyond his players.

The Hibs boss admitted he expects an onslaught from Celtic who, ironically, have taken fresh heart after Hibs held their city rivals Rangers to a goalless draw at Easter Road last weekend. But the Finn believes the desperation of the Glasgow side to hold onto their title could provide his side with the chances they need.

He said: "Celtic have plenty to play for, they need to win the game and hopefully that can work to our advantage. Of course we need to defend and Celtic have fantastic offensive players who are very dangerous.

"But I am asking my strikers to be on form and punish them whenever holes appear behind their midfield and defence.

"I think it will be an open game with plenty of action and hopefully we can score a goal or two and take a result home with us. Our form away from home has not been good, it's something we need to change. Let's hope that comes on Sunday."

Hibs will take on the SPL champions and current leaders Celtic fully aware of the outcome of tomorrow's clash between UEFA Cup rivals Motherwell and Aberdeen. But, even if the Fir Park side were to win and extend their lead over Hibs to four points, Paatelainen today insisted the fight for third place wouldn't be over.

He said: "The fact we will know Motherwell's result makes no difference to us. If they do win then the least we need from Sunday will be a draw and that would keep us alive."

Although Hibs have conceded just one goal from open play in their last four matches, their post-split games have yielded a mere two points, Paatelainen looking on in horror as his side surrendered the lead to both Dundee United and Aberdeen.

He said: "These matches are very tight. We've been ahead in two of the three played so far only for things to turn bad as we've either given away stupid penalties or made other mistakes.

"We need to make sure we concentrate fully and I feel that as long as we do that our offensive players will get their chances."

Paatelainen revealed he already knows the identity of the 11 who will start in Sunday's televised match but admitted it was a tough decision, made all the harder by the return from suspension of Colin Nish, Guillaume Beuzelin and Thierry Gathuessi while Chris Hogg, Brian Kerr and Alan O'Brien are all fit again following injury lay-offs.

He said: "We have plenty of strikers, Colin, Benji, Clayton Donaldson, Ross Campbell and, of course, Steven Fletcher. In midfield Ross Chisholm did fantastically well against Rangers and now we have Boozy and Brian available.

"Rob Jones and Martin Canning have done very well but Chris is a great, great player for us as his team-mates recognised by making him their player of the year.

"Then there's the goalkeeping position, Andy McNeil has come in and done superbly while Yves Ma-Kalambay is desperate to play again.

"So there's been tough decisions to be made in every department and I know those who don't start will be disappointed. But from a manager's point of view it's great to have plenty to choose from."