Wotherspoon: There is no margin for error

ASKED how many points he believes Hibs need from their final four matches to clinch fourth place in the SPL table – and with it European football – David Wotherspoon does a quick calculation and replies almost instantly: "All 12."

While it may seem a simple and predictable response, the Easter Road kid argues that he and his team-mates can't afford to flirt with a more complicated approach as they bid to attain the target which seemed guaranteed only a few weeks ago.

A horrendous run of results, just two wins in 13 matches, has seen both Motherwell and Capital rivals Hearts close in on John Hughes' side although, as Wotherspoon pointed out, Hibs remain, going into this weekend's fixtures, in pole position in that particular race.

The Scotland Under-21 star did concede, however, that there is little margin for error, hence his stance that the goal must be to win all of their remaining matches, starting with tomorrow's visit from the champions elect.

Although he agrees a Hibs victory would merely delay the Ibrox club's title party, Wotherspoon insisted that was of no concern to him, his sole focus being on ensuring a season which promised so much does, finally, deliver.

He said: "Saying we need three points here and can afford to drop some there isn't the sort of mentality we need – and it's one I'm sure the fans wouldn't appreciate.

"We can't bank on what might happen elsewhere between now and the end of the season, it's in our own hands and we have to prove we are worth that fourth spot.

"So, from the last four matches we have to be looking for every point possible and that means going for all 12." Although the majority of Hibs supporters would probably gladly have accepted the current scenario as the season kicked off, the Easter Road club having finished the last campaign in sixth place for the third year in succession and having lost key players in Steven Fletcher and Rob Jones, Wotherspoon admitted recent events had left many fans disappointed.

He said: "It would be a shame if everything slipped after all the good work that has been put in. It's been a season of two halves, we started terrifically and then all of a sudden we lost a bit of confidence.

"So, while a win tomorrow would put Rangers party on hold, the main objective for ourselves is three points which would help get the fans back on board.

"But I do think confidence is returning, we've trained really well every day this week and the boys are ready for it."

And Wotherspoon insisted that, while some are now writing Hughes' players off, everyone, players and fans alike, shouldn't forget their scintillating form of only a few weeks ago, an unbeaten run of 12 matches which even had some talking of Hibs not only splitting the Old Firm but perhaps even mounting a title challenge of their own.

Adamant he and his team-mates haven't buckled under the weight of that expectation, he said: "That was just talk the boys had in their mind, but we were trying to get on with just taking every game as it came along.

"We lost a bit and hit a bit of a slump.

"But we shouldn't forget that first half of the season when we did terrifically well considering what we did last year. The fans are disappointed with the last few months but we have four games left in which we can hopefully prove everyone wrong."

Whatever the final outcome may be, Wotherspoon insisted he can look back on his first SPL season with a degree of personal satisfaction, the midfielder promoted from the club's Under-19 side to find himself a first-team regular.

And that, the Perth-born youngster agreed, had vindicated his decision to quit Celtic at the age of 16 believing he'd have a greater chance of top level football elsewhere. Revealing that none of his team-mates from that time remain with the Glasgow club, he said: "I've been delighted with the way things have gone for me. I didn't expect to be chucked right in there.

"To be honest, I was just 0looking to come in and get a bit of experience with the older boys, training with them and that perhaps by this stage of the season I might be getting a regular start.

"I didn't expect it to be like this but I'm still living the dream of first-team football and I hope it continues.

"Now the older boys look on me as one of their own, they still encourage me a lot but they see me as more of a first-team regular.

"But next season I'll be back to square one again, preparing pre-season, working hard and trying to build on this season."

Although he made the step up as a midfield player, Wotherspoon quickly found himself pressed into service as a make-shift right back although he has returned to his more familiar berth in recent weeks after Moroccan playmaker Merouane Zemmama was ruled out for the rest of the season having undergone surgery to repair a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee.

He said: "I honestly enjoyed playing right back, learning the defensive side of the game. Now I've been trying to find my feet again wide on the right of midfield but I'm sure I'll re-adapt to it quickly enough."

Wotherspoon's form, allied to his attitude, has impressed Hughes hugely as has that of Paul Hanlon, who returned to the side following injury as did his team-mate against Celtic last weekend.

The Hibs boss said: "The two of them play with a lot of maturity, that's why they are in the first team.

"But, to be fair, David and Paul are playing a good few years in front of themselves.

"For the two of them to go to Celtic Park, a really intimidating place and put on the show they did, given neither had enjoyed a lot of match fitness prior to that game, tells you all you need to know about their character."