John Hughes disappointed with Anthony Stokes' lacklustre display

Published on Sunday 29 August 2010 15:00

IF yesterday's below par performance was Anthony Stokes's final match for Hibs, then it will not be one for him to recall with fondness, according to his long-term mentor John Hughes.

Hibs and Celtic were still in talks yesterday evening over the future of the striker who scored 23 goals last season and is a known target for Parkhead manager Neil Lennon.

There is a considerable difference in the two clubs' valuations of Stokes, and it may not be resolved before the transfer window deadline tomorrow.

The Easter Road manager is a firm fan of Stokes, and has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the Irishman, but that does not prevent him being candid about the player's lack of a showing yesterday.

"I felt he was poor," said Hughes. "Perhaps it was having everything on his mind.

"Sometimes you play on emotions and character, and I just felt that with the relationship that we had, if this was to be his last game he might have went out with a bang, but it didn't materialise."

If Stokes stays, he may well see considerable differences in Hibs' approach, as Hughes sounded a 'back to the drawing board' message to fans.

He said: "I like to play expansive football and it is good to watch, but maybe we are not as good as we think we are.

"I will have a right good look and maybe I will have to start picking a team that will be hard to beat."

Of the match, Hughes was in no doubt that several players let the club down yesterday: "I have seen us pass it better, but I couldn't see St Mirren scoring, though I did turn around and say 'I hope we don't get our pocket picked.'

"It was a cheap goal to lose, but that's what we do - we lose cheap goals at Hibs. I felt we got outworked. I felt St Mirren were resolute, they were solid and had a good shape about them and fought for everything, while I felt we had three or four players who were not at it, and that is not acceptable, not come showtime on match day.

"That's when you have to go out there and earn your bread and butter. They have let themselves down and their teammates, so hopefully we can bounce back.

"The only thing you get out of football is when you put the shift in and I just felt St Mirren wanted it more and worked harder."