Hibs: Let's stop the juggernaut

Probably the last thing beleaguered Easter Road boss John Hughes and his players need right now, tomorrow's fixture cruelly highlighting the stark contrast between the two teams, one apparently struggling with a crisis of confidence and the other riding high on the back of 13 straight SPL wins.

Throw in this week's events, Hibs crashing to Kilmarnock in the Co-operative Insurance Cup while Celtic romped to a 6-0 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and many might wonder if it's even worth the green-and-white army making the journey along the M8.

But, while even the most die-hard Hibee may shudder at the prospect, midfield star John Rankin adopts an entirely different approach, declaring: "Big players rise to big occasions."

Foolhardy his words may seem given the current assessment that club and manager alike stand on the brink of a crisis, one brought about by just one win in eight matches this season, a record which has brought jeers from some fans, who have also directed personal abuse at Hughes himself.

Rankin, however, reckons that Celtic's impressive run must come to an end at some point and who, according to his thinking, better to do it than a Hibs' side desperately in need of a victory of their own, one which, he would hope, would kick-start a season which even this early appears to many to be falling apart.

In today's world of transfer windows, the next one not open until January 1, Rankin is fully aware it will be up to him and his team-mates to restore the fans' faith, the only way to do so being to get the necessary points to begin shifting Hibs up the SPL table.

Recognising the apparent enormity of the task facing Hughes' players, the 27-year-old said: "It's obviously a big game, one we go into on the back of a not very good run. Celtic, I am sure, will be brimming with confidence, they've got a fantastic record of 13 league wins in a row but it's there to be broken and hopefully it will be us to do it."

While the Hoops worn by the opposition players will be more than familiar to Hibs, those wearing those jerseys will be less so, Lennon having embarked on a summer spending spree which has seen the Celtic boss trawl the globe for fresh talent from Baram Kayal of Israel to Efran Juarez of Mexico. From Sweden's Daniel Majstorovic to Emilio Izaguirre of Honduras and, seemingly, all points in between. And, of course, from much closer to home, Hibs' own Anthony Stokes, the Republic of Ireland striker snapped up on transfer deadline day to join his boyhood heroes where he has already started repaying that reputed 1.4 million transfer fee with the winner against Kilmarnock last weekend and two more in the cup win over Caley.

Rankin said: "Usually with SPL sides playing each other four times a season you tend to know almost everything about the opposition and each of their players. At the moment, though, they've brought in so many new players we don't know too much about while, on the other hand, I'd imagine those guys won't know too much about us.

"It should make things a bit interesting. As far as Anthony goes, it's probably a bigger thing for him to be playing against the boys than us playing against him. We have to remember we are playing against ten others and not just him. He'll obviously be looking for a win but equally we'll be looking to go there, start to turn our season around and build from there."

Although recent results would suggest otherwise, Rankin insisted, as Hughes has done repeatedly, that Hibs' performances have not been as bad as some have claimed, but admitted a failure to take the chances created allied to cheap goals conceded had proved to be their downfall, not least at Rugby Park the other night. He said: "It is not as if we are getting battered. We are playing the right style of football but in the big moments of games we are not taking our chances.

"It's not as if we are not making goal-scoring opportunities. Sometimes you create one chance, take it and the game is done. Occasionally, teams don't even make an opening, the opposition makes a mistake and they capitalise on it. We made umpteen against Killie and could have finished the game off. It's a mystery as to why we aren't taking the chances we are making because the boys stay behind to work on their shooting."

The Kilmarnock game was, according to Rankin, yet another case in point, Hibs scoring in the opening minutes – as they had done against Caley and Hamilton – with Jonathan Grounds' first goal for the club only for Hughes' players to end up defeated 3-1.

Rankin played his part in that goal, seeing two shots blocked in quick succession before throwing himself in to prevent Killie clearing, his reward being to see the ball drop for team-mate Liam Miller to play the on-loan Middlesbrough defender in. The former Manchester United trainee said: "I thought we dictated play for the first 20 minutes or so, we had other chances and could have won quite convincingly. Even in the second half after they'd equalised we had the better chances.

"We don't seem to be getting the rub of the green at the moment but, to my mind, you make your own luck. The most important thing is to be winning matches. We know we are playing the right way but we've been getting the first goal and then finding ourselves being hit by a sucker punch."

Throughout these disappointments, Hughes has shown faith in his players, Rankin's introduction to the action against Killie as he replaced David Wotherspoon in the starting line-up, having been the only change.

It was Rankin's first start since the away leg of the Europa League tie against Slovenian outfit NK Maribor, the midfielder having been restricted to just two more appearances as a substitute in the intervening period.

But now he's determined to hold onto his place. He said: "I've had to be patient. It's been hard for me over the past few weeks as it is for every player who isn't in the side. You find it disappointing and you are always itching to get back in.

"All I could do was keep the head up and now I've had my chance hopefully I've taken it and will be back in tomorrow and the weeks to come."