Hibs boss takes criticism on the chin

The jeers which had been directed at the Easter Road side in the wake of disappointing home draws against Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hamilton descended into bitter personal abuse as Kilmarnock claimed their place in today's quarter-final draw. Sections of the travelling support left Hughes, now with just one win in eight matches this season, in no doubt as to where they wanted to see him go while the manager was forced to deny there had been a punch-up in their Rugby Park dressing-room.

The fans' mood wasn't helped by the fact they'd seen the Edinburgh side take an early lead yet again, on-loan Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Grounds slotting home his first goal for the club in only the eighth minute.

But, once again, Hibs proved incapable of holding on to their lead while once more passing up a series of clear-cut openings. Even a lucky break when referee Willie Collum had second thoughts about awarding Killie a penalty, settling on a corner on the advice of fourth official Bobby Madden, didn't help their cause.

Jamie Hamill levelled before the interval and, although Hibs again had chances in the second half, - Dutch signing Edwin de Graaf slicing wide when faced with another open goal - Killie killed them off with a Hamill penalty and a strike from David Silva.

It was the fourth time already this season Hibs have lost three goals in a match, leaving Hughes to say: "The boys are saying we are beating ourselves but we are conceding far too many soft goals."

However, despite the result Hughes insisted there were positive signs, claiming: "You can be beaten by not playing football or not trying, but that wasn't the case. Did we do enough to win the match? We certainly did and if we take our chances at the right time then we'd have been sitting in the hat for today's draw."

Admitting he himself was becoming sick and tired of praising the effort and commitment of his players, again insisting he couldn't fault them, only to find himself struggling to explain how they'd failed to win once more, Hughes added: "I am trying to be as honest as I can right at this moment and I think anyone that knows football would say it as well."

Without saying as much, Hughes would have been disappointed to hear the reaction of the fans on the final whistle, their vitriol directed at him but he claimed it would have no effect. "It's part and parcel of football but I am not going to feel sorry for myself. I understand their criticism and it's probably all about results.

"We have to stick together. Who said football is easy? It never comes easy. One minute you are up there, the next you are down. Last year we got into Europe for the first time in six years, but just now we are on a downer. However, the season doesn't end in September."