Cautious John Hughes wary of Montrose 'heroes'

THE weight of history might bear down on Hibernian each time they step out on Scottish Cup duty but John Hughes acknowledged the burden imposed on part-time teams on the eve of his side's fifth-round tie against Montrose this afternoon.

The Hibs manager saluted the efforts of the Links Park side in reaching this stage of the competition following a season of struggle and toil at the foot of the Third Division. He described the players as "heroes", and noted their passion in the face of adversity and despite job commitments outside the game.

Former Easter Road defender Steven Tweed's side have won only one league game all season, but it came at the right moment. Last weekend's win at Berwick Rangers means they arrive at Easter Road in better heart than of late, although their cup form has contrasted with their league woes. Bank O'Dee, East Fife and Edinburgh City have all been overcome, with the last victory achieved just around the corner from Easter Road at the Commonwealth Stadium, and in front of the watching Hughes. He knows the danger posed by teams with nothing to lose, and saw his side struggle to overcome Irvine Meadow in the last round. Hibs finally ran out 3-0 victors, but were pinned back in the opening half an hour by the highly motivated junior outfit. Hughes is alert to the desire for the likes of goalkeeper Andrew McNeil and Paul Tosh to do well on their return to Easter Road, while Tweed himself started his career at the club in 1991.

"All these part-time players at Montrose are the real heroes," said Hughes. "The Scottish Cup is fantastic. It's the holy grail here. But it's these part-time guys who are the heroes. To go and do a shift and then play football every Saturday for next to nothing. They should be getting the medals. They have the chance to take our scalp and that is what all the hard work is about."

"I know Tweedy and he's a lovely guy," continued Hughes. "He played in the last game against Edinburgh City, and then there's Andy McNeil in goal and Paul Tosh. They will all enjoy coming through to their old stomping ground. But if we go about our business properly we should win the football match."

Given Hibs' tortured relationship with the Scottish Cup, Hughes' desire to simply progress through to the quarter-finals is understandable. Fate appears to be on Hibs' side so far after a pair of home draws against teams they would always be expected to defeat. Hughes, as much as anyone, can sense the ache which courses through those associated with Hibs when thoughts turn to this trophy. He is, though, on a run of form in the competition, having taken Falkirk to the final last year.

"Even now if it was to be 1-0 and we got into the next round then I would be very happy," he said. "It was a great day last year. To give a provincial club a day in the sun like that (Falkirk lost 1-0 to Rangers at Hampden]. On another day it might have gone our way. But it's on a different scale here at Hibs because we have not won it for 108 years. What would it mean to all the people at the club? It would make a lot of people very happy. But if it's not this year then I would like to think that throughout my tenure at the club we keep banging on the door. Eventually, if you keep banging at the door, it will open."

Meanwhile, Hughes has also expanded on his reasons for adding yet another goalkeeper to his pool. Mark Brown was captured on a two-and-a-half year deal from Celtic last week, and is expected to feature on the bench this afternoon.

His arrival at Easter Road brings the number of first-team goalkeepers at the club to four, with Graeme Smith, Graham Stack and Yves Makalambay also included in what Hughes refers to as a "school of goalkeepers". He is delighted, since it means he is not kept up at night worrying about the situation between the goalposts. This has proved an obstacle to a peaceful night's sleep for a succession of Hibs managers.

"For the last seven to eight years I do not think we have really had that goalkeeping school at Hibs," explained Hughes. "I sat down with the board of directors. I said: 'Let's go and get that goalkeeping school once and for all'. I think what I have now could be the envy of Scottish football. I am not saying that they are the best in Scotland, but the standard is fantastic."

"I don't keep them all happy," he acknowledged. "It will work its way out one way or another in terms of who is out of contract, who is playing, who is unhappy. Right at this moment in time I do not think Graeme Smith has done anything wrong to lose the No1 jersey. Stacky is back training and Broony (Brown] is training really hard. Maka is saying he is up for this as well. If I think about my goalkeepers last thing at night, I go to sleep. That was not the case six weeks ago."