Hibs boss thanks his luck for cup pairing

JOHN HUGHES today admitted lady luck had shone on Hibs, pitching the Easter Road side against either Edinburgh City or Montrose in the fifth round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup, but he insisted: "I'll take it."

Hibs' reward for winning the historic tie with Junior outfit Irvine Meadow was another home match against the winners of Wednesday night's rearranged game at Meadowbank.

Acknowledging Hibs will again be overwhelming favourites whether it be their near neighbours from the East of Scotland League or the team currently bottom of the Third Division, Hughes said: "I think the draw will give us a lift.

"You need a bit of luck to get there and we have that just now. But I'd rather be a team with a touch of luck than one that's not. First and foremost it's a home tie and it's a good one for us, no doubting that." Hughes will be at Meadowbank to begin building his dossier on whoever his team's opponents might be on the first weekend of next month, well aware both sides will be desperate to be making the journey to Easter Road.

He said: "Being a Capital side I am sure Edinburgh City will have a few Hibs and Hearts fans in their team while Steven Tweed is manager of Montrose and Andy McNeil is playing there now, it throws up all sorts of different scenarios."

Whoever Hibs might face, Hughes admitted he'll be looking for a better performance than that turned in by his players who eventually earned a 3-0 win over a plucky Irvine Meadow side which caused a few problems, not least a Brian McGinty shot which came off the post.

The Hibs boss said: "We made it a wee bit hard for ourselves, but take nothing away from Irvine. They came and gave it a right good go. I've seen us better which was frustrating but the bottom line is we got the business done."

Meanwhile, Hibs were today still trying to make contact with defender Sol Bamba who was due to play in the Ivory Coast's opening match in the African Cup of Nations following the shooting tragedy which has overshadowed the tournament.

Hughes said: "We haven't heard anything from him so I am assuming no news is good news. It's a terrible thing which should never have happened but we have our fingers crossed Sol is in safe hands, which I am sure he is."