Hughes looks to Hibs exerienced stars in Euro quest

Published on Wednesday 28 July 2010 08:40

JOHN HUGHES today called on his senior players to shoulder the responsibility of clinching the result which will take Hibs halfway to a Europa League play-off place.

The Easter Road boss admitted he'd happily settle for a 1-1 draw in the Stadion Ljudski, home of tomorrow night's third qualifying round opponents, Slovenian outfit NK Maribor.

But, he agreed, his side will have to be at their best in the first leg if they are to ensure there is still all to play for when the teams clash for a second time in Edinburgh in eight days' time.

And that, he insisted, is were the experience of players like Republic of Ireland stars Liam Miller and Anthony Stokes along with that of Scotland striker Derek Riordan and Ian Murray, the sole survivor of that epic UEFA Cup encounter with AEK Athens nine years ago and the utility player who also enjoyed both international experience and Champions League exposure during his spell with Rangers.

Dutch signing Edwin de Graaf will also bring some recent Europa League know-how to bear having skippered NAC Breda through three rounds of the competition last season, scoring five goals in six matches only to be sent crashing out of the tournament by Spanish outfit Villareal.

Hughes said: "Obviously, we'd like to win, but a 1-1 draw with that vital away goal to bring back to Easter Road would be a good result.

"Having the experience of these guys definitely helps, players who know what to expect and on whom you'll rely to keep calm when the going gets tough."

Hibs preparation for tomorrow night's match has been meticulous with Hughes making full use of the dossier his assistant Brian Rice assembled in watching Maribor dispose of Videoton in the previous round and in a 0-0 away draw against Rudar Velenje in their domestic league on Sunday.

But having identified Maribor's strengths and their key players, information he prefers to keep to himself rather than alert the Slovenians to his way of thinking, and devised training sessions to suit, Hughes also insisted it's important that both he and his players don't become obsessed by their opponents but concentrate on playing their own game.

He said: "We know our game plan, we know what we want to do and have looked at the formation we think suits us best. The work has been meticulous, now it is up to them to take responsibility.

"No matter what you do, it's about the football. If you can control as a team and retain it then you will always have a chance.

"If the other team are controlling it, as Heracles did in our first match in the Netherlands, then you are in for a tough old night."