Niklas Gunnarsson: Hibs have ability to win 5-0

Hibernian's Niklas Gunnarsson at the club's East Mains training centre. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS

In order for Hibs to taste glory – if indeed there can be any glory in finishing second in the Championship – they might need to score a large number of goals. Although Niklas Gunnarsson struck for the first time for the club last week against Rangers, the onus is on forwards rather than defenders delivering.

Despite Hibs drawing a blank against Morton on Saturday, the Norwegian right-back is confident they have the fire power required to secure handsome home wins over Dumbarton tonight and Queen of the South on Sunday, on the last day of the regulation league season.

Hibs are in the play-offs whatever happens. But given their Scottish Cup final commitments, they would prefer to skip the additional assignment, and potential hazards, of a quarter final, the first leg of which would take place a week tomorrow.

With Falkirk currently in the driving seat to finish second, there is the slim possibility Hibs can finish above them even if Peter Houston’s side win their last game v Morton. But to do this Hibs must themselves take maximum points in their last two games, while making up the eight goals that will be required if Falkirk beat Morton by a single goal. Houston’s side might, of course, win by more, making Hibs’ job harder still.

Gunnarsson accepts that bridging the goal-difference gap is a tall order, but not impossible. He confessed to watching “four or five” re-runs of his well-finished strike last week against Rangers, which turned out to be the winner in the 3-2 victory. Sadly no matter how many times he has watched it again since, the goal counts only once.

Clearly, Hibs hope Falkirk drop points against Morton, meaning six points, perhaps even four, will be enough from their remaining games, and goal difference can be discounted. But there is a chance goals could come into the equation.

“The main thing is to win the games, but, if we can score 5-0 or 6-0, that would be awesome,” said Gunnarsson. “I once won 5-0 once in the Tippeligaen [with Valerenga] against Aalesund, who played in the Europa League recently.”

But, despite having Jason Cummings and now Anthony Stokes up front as well, large victories have not been the way of things for Hibs this season in an ultra-competitive Championship. Their biggest victory is by three goals, which they have managed on four occasions on league duty, against Alloa twice, Queen of the South and St Mirren.

“We have goalscorers in our team, so it just comes down to taking our chances,” said Gunnarrson. “We know we can created 10-15 chances a game. Against Rangers we were effective because we scored most of the chances we had.

“But when we were away to Dumbarton we created 18 chances and scored two goals. That wasn’t the best ratio but if we click then we have the ability to score five goals.”

He has known such fine margins before, when playing in Sweden last season. “Last year with Elfsborg we were fighting to win the league and to get a top-three spot, but we didn’t manage that in the end,” he recalled. “We finished fourth. I’ve never been involved in anything like this, with so many games.

“We’ll have had more than 60 matches this season and that’s incredible. In Scandinavia we have 30 games, so there’s a big difference there.

“It got interesting because, week to week, you’re listening out for the scores. Then, in the final games, they read out the goal updates on the loud speaker, so we knew what was happening.

“I think that’s something that’s more common in Scandinavia than in Scotland. When you’re playing, it can be hard to listen out to what is being said [over the Tannoy]. The fans then react. The most important thing for us to do is to do our part. I don’t know if we will find anything out – it’s up to the gaffer what he wants us to know or not know.”

Such a dramatic scenario won’t unfold, if at all, until Sunday. The trick for Hibs is making sure they do what is required tonight, which, in the first instance, is pick up all three points.

Alan Stubbs, the Hibs manager, is unsure about the benefit of Dumbarton having already secured their Championship status for another season.

“I just think it’s one of them where you’ll have to wait and see what happens,” he said.

“I’m happier that they’ve got what they needed before coming into this game. But then you can look at it and say they’re relaxed now and they’ll play with freedom, with no pressure on them to get a point or three points. That can be dangerous as well.”