Christian Doidge reveals driving force behind past success and says Hibs have it within them to win Betfred Cup semi-final

The results of season 2016/17 are recorded in black and white. Explore further and beside Forest Green’s play-off victory over Tranmere on May 14, you might find details of the line-up, the scorers names, and other statistics. But, what is not shown is what fuelled that success.

Hibs striker Christian Doidge attempts to get the better of Celtic's Jeremie Frimpong during last season's Betfred Cup semi final at Hampden. Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group

Hibs striker Christian Doidge was one of the heroes that day, as The New Lawn side hoisted themselves clear of the National League and into the English League Two, and as he looked around that Wembley dressing room it became obvious that the disappointment of losing out, at the same stage, 12 months earlier was going to be a major factor.

He had arrived at the club when the emotional dust had apparently settled but having earned themselves another shot at promotion, as they stood within touching distance of the prize Grimsby had denied them the previous year, veterans of that loss made it clear that they did not want to suffer the same fate again.

“What I remember from preparing for the game was seeing how it was still affecting the lads from the year before, when they had lost. You work so hard for that whole year and then it's all down to a one-off game.

“To see how disappointed the lads were as they remembered that one and then the relief on their faces after the game when we managed to get over the line was special. That was a great occasion to be part of.”

Channelling the upset to right wrongs is something Doidge is now looking to do himself, along with the other survivors of Hibs’ League Cup semi final defeat to Celtic, last term.

Approaching the same point of the competition again, this season they will face St Johnstone, at Hampden on Saturday and the Welshman believes the Easter Road side are in a better position than they were last time.

While recent form has been slightly hit and miss, which could also describe a large proportion of last season’s top scorer’s goal attempts this term, they are still riding high in the Premiership, contesting the European spots, and into the final four in a major cup competition for the third successive time. And the feeling of impending doom that hung over Hibs before that 5-2 mauling by Celtic is absent.

It was a result that cost Hibs their place in a final and then manager Paul Heckingbottom his job. But for those who were not part of the cull, it offers incentives to go at least one better in this year’s Betfred Cup.

“I was part of the team that lost in the semi-final last year to Celtic, so it's a great chance for us to put a good performance in and get a win and I'm sure that's something we will really work hard on and we’ll prepare right to ensure everyone is in the best possible place.

"When we sit down at the start of the year we single out what we want to achieve and getting to semi-finals and finals is a major thing for us.

"It's going to be a difficult game, any semi-final is always high drama and they have hit good form, so we have to make sure we are at the top of our game.”

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