Hibs boss: Double will stoke up Ant goal glut

Published on Monday 7 December 2009 08:43

HIBS boss John Hughes today predicted a goals rush from Anthony Stokes after the Republic of Ireland striker claimed a double to keep the Easter Road outfit hard on the heels of the Old Firm.

Stokes' goals against Motherwell were his first since his strike at Ibrox earned Hibs a point five matches ago but took his tally for the season to six.

And now Hughes believes the 21-year-old, who claimed 16 goals in just 18 matches during an astonishing loan spell at Falkirk, will go on to score plenty more in a green-and-white shirt.

The former Arsenal and Sunderland youngster fired Hibs ahead and added a second thanks to a deflected shot as Hughes' side made it six wins at home this season and remain the only team to beat Motherwell in the league.

But today Hughes insisted those goals were the reward for hard work, with Stokes himself admitting he had, perhaps, been a bit "sloppy" in recent weeks.

Hughes said: "I keep saying you only get out of football what you put in. Anthony is a natural goal-scorer, we see that every day in training but he has to realise you have to go out there and make sure you are grafting hard for the team.

"People tend to forget he's only 21, just a boy, because he has been around for a while. He's been finding his fitness but he's probably there now and hopefully these goals will kick him on – you could see his confidence soaring when he scored his first.

"I'm sure he'll get double figures but I want a more all-rounded game. I will keep demanding that off him and I think we are getting that."

If Hughes was delighted with Stokes' contribution he was equally pleased with the overall performance of his side, which has now stretched their unbeaten run in the SPL to ten matches with an impressive defensive record which boasts just nine goals conceded and only two lost in their last seven games.

He said: "I was really pleased for the boys.

"The message Brian Rice and I have been hammering into them since we came to the club is that you need to graft, that we are not good enough for anyone to take the day off.

"If we are 'at ourselves' we are at our best and we needed to be against Motherwell, a team which is organised and passes the ball well

"But I felt we thoroughly merited the three points. We battled away, worked hard for the 90 minutes and I think that showed in the performance.

"We are doing well but I honestly feel that there is still more to come, that we can still get better."

Two goals from Scott Taggart were enough to give Hibs a 2-1 victory over Falkirk as they seek to retain the SFA Youth Cup while the Easter Road club's Scottish Cup opponents, Irvine Meadow, enjoyed a morale-boosting 5-0 away victory over Aberdeen side Hillhead in the Emirates Junior Cup.