Hibs boss warns no easy ride after St Johnstone loss

Published on Wednesday 23 September 2009 09:45

EXASPERATED Hibs boss John Hughes today insisted there was no room for passengers after watching St Johnstone end the Easter Road outfit's dream of repeating their Co-operative Insurance Cup glory of two years ago.

Despite getting off to the best possible start, Anthony Stokes scoring his third goal in four days against Saints after just 43 seconds, Hibs ended up second best to a side they'd beaten 3-0 at the weekend, as the Perth outfit hit back through Gavin Swankie, Chris Millar and Jody Morris.

Today Hughes didn't mince his words as he admitted Derek McInnes' players thoroughly deserved their place in the last eight while insisting his own stars need to roll their sleeves up and graft to allow their undoubted talent to shine through. He said: "There's no point in talking round about it, last night was a real disappointment, we cannot give goals away the way we are."

Hughes arrived at Easter Road barely three months ago insisting there was much hard work ahead of him and assistant Brian Rice and today, he admitted, that remains the situation although, he claimed, he can see signs of their influence coming to bear.

He said: "We have to realise that, anything we get, we have to graft for.

"We need to get the fundamentals right, defending properly, winning second balls, working the other team, winning the one-on-ones, hunting in twos and threes.

"We tried but I just felt we didn't do it. We cannot carry anyone, we need everyone working for each other and then we'll see where we go.

"I need to build a team that's resolute, spirited. I want bullies and by that I mean guys who will make demands of themselves and of each other.

"You cannot be on the fringes. We need all hands on deck helping each other, digging each other out. That's what we are trying to instil. But I do see it coming. I think I can see signs of us getting what we expect through to them. They are starting to pick it up. We can see wee changes coming on the training pitch, the young boys are starting to get more of a voice and people are starting to get into each other.

"It has to be like that day in, day out for us. But we still have a lot of work to do, that smacks you in the face.

"It's my job to get it right but I came here knowing what was needing done. There's no magic wand, we are not good enough just to turn up. We have to be focused.

"We have to make sure we are all applying ourselves properly. I felt last night we were a little bit between a rock and a hard place, we tried to pass the ball but we didn't do it well but I think it was evident we also need to make sure we are resolute and hard to beat."