Alan Stubbs wants Hibs to atone for 2015 semi-final loss

Conflicting evidence could be deployed to assess the likelihood of Championship Hibernian beating their Premiership opponents St Johnstone in the League Cup semi-final this afternoon.

Alan Stubbs was at Hampden ahead of the League Cup semi-final

Alan Stubbs’ men have taken out two top-flight teams to reach the last four, with impressive home wins over Aberdeen and Dundee United. Set against that, the Leith club couldn’t make it through a Scottish Cup semi-final against a Falkirk side below them in the second tier last season.

Stubbs doesn’t place much store in his team’s route to their Tynecastle tie today. He hopes that failing against Falkirk preys on his players’ minds, though.

‘[The record against Premiership teams] won’t do them any harm,” he said. “How much relevance it has I’m not too sure. All those elements go out of the window – it’s two teams trying to get to a final irrespective of what divisions they are in. I’ve got to be honest, I think [the Falkirk defeat] could be a motivating factor, but it’s whether they think about that.

“We’ll be focused purely on Saturday, though. St Johnstone certainly have the utmost respect from me. They are one of those teams that’s always in games. They don’t give a lot away.”

l Former Hibs striker Derek Riordan, 33, has signed for York City until the end of the season. Jackie McNamara’s side are currently bottom of League 2.