Hibs boss won't give up on top six

Colin CALDERWOOD today admitted Hibs need something exceptional if they are to overcome the odds and claim a top-six finish.

Stephen Elliott's late equaliser in a pulsating Easter Road derby left Calderwood's side trailing sixth-placed Motherwell by seven points with only three games remaining before the split.

The first of those is a trip to face title-chasing Celtic on Wednesday night as Motherwell take on Dundee United, the side they hammered 3-0 just last week in a Scottish Cup replay, at Fir Park.

Hibs need to win all three games - a trip to Aberdeen and a visit from Hamilton follow this midweek's clash - and hope Motherwell fail to win either of their remaining two.

Their task will be made even more difficult by the fact Inverness Caledonian Thistle and St Johnstone, who currently lie above them in the SPL table, are also in the mix - meaning Calderwood's side could win all three of their games and still not make it into the top half.

Today, though, while conceding it had become "more and more difficult" for Hibs, Calderwood insisted he and his players won't be throwing in the towel as long as their objective remains mathematically possible.

Agreeing that victory against Hearts could have been the "exceptional" result Hibs needed in that particular quest, Calderwood declared: "We might as well go and chase it, why not?"

As it was, Calderwood was left ruing the one that got away, admitting the "minute-and-a-half of elation" which had separated the goal from Ricardo Vaz Te which looked like steering Hibs to all three points and Elliott's strike was not enough, the draw having left the home dressingroom totally deflated.

However, having seen Liam Miller's penalty - accompanied by a red card for Hearts skipper Marius Zaliukas for his push on Akpo Sodje - cancel out Ryan Stevenson's opener, Calderwood claimed the fact Hibs had now clocked up seven games undefeated was a sign of progress at Easter Road.

"I think so," he said, "But we then have to prove it over a sustained period, They (Hearts] area team that's collected very close to two points a game, that's a level that's exceptional.

"We have to chase that type of target, that's what I expect of my players."

Meanwhile, Hibs Under-19 side came from behind to defeat Kilmarnock 3-2 at East Mains with a double from Danny Handling and a Jack Verth goal.