Hibs: Galbraith: No-one can escape the blame for what's happened

Although only 20, the winger is adamant that each and every one of Colin Calderwood's squad is equally accountable for the disappointments of recent months regardless of where they rank in seniority.

Regarded as the "baby" of the squad when he arrived at Easter Road 18 months ago – although that sobriquet now rests with teenage defender David Stephens – Galbraith insisted he's more than capable of facing up to the demands expected of any player pulling on a green and white shirt despite his tender years.

The former Manchester United kid said: "To be honest, I'm a bit sick of being tagged the baby of the squad, that's not the way I see it. You may look to the experienced players and try to learn from them, but we all have to pull together collectively to take the club in the right direction.

"When you cross that white line everyone has to take responsibility, you can't just pass it on to the older, more experienced players. I don't look at it that way, what I try to do is go out there and perform to my best along with my team-mates."

Galbraith conceded each and every one of Calderwood's players will have to do exactly that tomorrow when SPL leaders Celtic pitch up at Easter Road still smarting from their controversial midweek draw at Hamilton and determined not to give away any further ground in the race for the title.

Hibs, of course, have their own agenda, seeking precious points to haul themselves away from the foot of the table where they currently lie just four points ahead of basement side Accies although the New Douglas Park club have a game in hand.

However, regardless of how precarious the position may seem, Galbraith claimed he saw little reason to celebrate former team-mate Anthony Stokes' last-minute penalty for Celtic which prevented Billy Reid's side making further ground on Hibs.

He said: "I don't know if other teams are looking at us but we try just to concentrate on ourselves and disregard what is happening elsewhere. We believe we have the players who can do better, players capable of picking up our performances and if we play as well as we can then our league position will take care of itself."

Having said that, Galbraith accepted it's a point-of-view which has been repeated ad nauseum in recent weeks, player after player insisting that the forthcoming game will become the one which marks the upturn in Hibs' fortunes.

"I know it sounds a bit like a broken record," he said, "but that's the way we look at it, that the next game will be the one in which we'll turn things around.

"It's going to have to happen sooner rather than later and hopefully tomorrow is the one where we start to get on a bit of a run and pick up some back-to-back wins like we did against Rangers and Motherwell.

"We all thought that was it, that we'd kick on. but, unfortunately, it all came to an end too soon and we have slipped back. When you look back at beating Rangers and then Motherwell and some of the results we picked up last season it all becomes highly frustrating because we know what we are capable of."

Galbraith need only look to just less than a year ago when his last-minute winner at Celtic Park helped fuel the notion that Hibs were emerging as genuine challengers to the Old Firm just as Capital rivals Hearts have done this season.

Admitting that night felt as if it belonged to another lifetime rather than just 12 months ago, Galbraith said: "It's hard to believe that it wasn't that long ago. It was a great night for me and while it would obviously be great to repeat it tomorrow I wouldn't begrudge any of my team-mates enjoying the feeling of scoring the winner."

Tomorrow's lunchtime start represents the beginning of a tough run of matches for Calderwood's squad, one which could very much define their entire season, the visit of Neil Lennon's team followed in quick succession by Tuesday night's Scottish Cup trip to Somerset Park and then crucial SPL clashes with Motherwell, Rangers, Dundee United and St Mirren.

Agreeing it's a punishing schedule, Galbraith said: "It doesn't get any easier, that always seems to be the way when you are on the sort of run we are enduring, the next game is always going to be the toughest.

"And with Celtic being top of the league it doesn't get much harder. I don't think what happened at Hamilton will have any bearing in how they approach the game but it's up to us and what we do.

"There's two ways of looking at the games we have to play, we can get ourselves on a run with matches coming up thick and fast but, on the other hand, when you are not picking up points then they fly by.

"It's all in our own hands, we know what we have to do and it is up to us to do it. We have to start collecting points and tomorrow would be the ideal game in which to do so. We need to get a victory for ourselves, for the manager and the fans. The manager has been in for a couple of months now, he's starting to mould his team and getting across what he wants from us.

"But there is only so much he can do in terms of giving us information and working on the training ground during the week. It's then up to us to go out, perform as we can and get the results.

"Last Saturday against Ayr United was unnacceptable, both the result and the performance so we have to prove our worth tomorrow.

"No disrespect to Ayr, they came with a game plan and they deserved to earn a replay.

"It's been a difficult time for all of us but I believe that whether it's highs or lows you are left with experiences which should stand you in good stead for the future. We know we have been underperforming, that we've let everyone down including ourselves and that it is up to us to put it right – hopefully starting tomorrow."

Hibs: Galbraith: No-one can escape the blame for what's happened – we have to win and lose together