Sickened Jackson Irvine admits Hibs will evaluate as angry Jack Ross hits out at players

Furious Hibs manager Jack Ross has hit out at his players, questioning their courage and character after they again stumbled at the semi-final stage of a major cup competition.
Jackson Irvine reacts at full-time after Hibs were beaten 3-0 by St Johnstone.Jackson Irvine reacts at full-time after Hibs were beaten 3-0 by St Johnstone.
Jackson Irvine reacts at full-time after Hibs were beaten 3-0 by St Johnstone.

Fully in control of the match, they failed to make the most of the chances that came their way and when St Johnstone stunned the with two set-piece goals either side of the interval, they allowed standards to slip and ultiately conceded a third goal to end the game well-beaten.

“For me it’s the anger at how we performed in the majority of the second half,” said Ross. “We were trying to get to a final and then you saw the response at conceding the second goal.

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“We had a good first half and we should have had a better response in trying to get back in to the game but we became ill-disciplined in large aspects of our play. That’s not good enough.

“In the aftermath of the last semi-final we were talking about the fine margins of why we lost the game. If I had spoken to you after the first half tonight I might have said something similar but the reaction to adversity after conceding the second goal is not good enough.

“You have to have courage and character to keep ploughing through trying situations. Things in life are not always going to go your way.”

The criticism hit home, with newcomer Jackson Irvine, equally as unhappy with the way events transpired.

"I can't talk for everyone but from my own point of view there is nothing worse in football than having that side of your game questioned,” said the midfieder.

“As individuals, we need to look in the mirror and ask, 'Did we do enough to win a game of football?' That's the evaluation we all need to do over the next few days before the next game.”

But the 2016 League Cup winner was gutted to let another chance at a winners’ medal slip through his hands.

"I feel a bit sick after that. You don't get many opportunities to play in occasions like this.

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"We let it pass us by and it feels sickening. It wasn't good enough all round.”

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