Hibs need win against Dundee United to silence critics

Defeat by Rangers, ending an unbeaten run of 12 SPL matches, followed by an indifferent performance against Junior outfit Irvine Meadow in the Active Nation Scottish Cup has raised question marks in some quarters over the Edinburgh club's ability to go the distance this season.

Hughes would be the first to agree recent displays haven't been up to standard but, as he pointed out, his third-placed side will travel to Tannadice knowing a win will edge them five points clear of United with a game in hand.

And that, he declared, would signal the Hibees' intent to hang onto their lofty League position.

Hughes, who was at New Douglas Park to witness the managerless Tayside club defeat Hamilton on Wednesday night, acknowledged United will be as hard to beat now as they were when Craig Levein was in charge.

But he said: "We know the importance of the game. We have aspirations to finish as high up the League as we can so I've been telling the players they need to treat every week as a cup final.

"They must have that strong mindset, to go our there with the belief no matter who is in front of them or whether we are home or away.

"Tomorrow will be a big test for us, United are a physical side but they play good football. We possibly should have beaten them in Edinburgh earlier in the season and that's the frustration, we've only seen bits and pieces here and there. But the players have come up trumps, we have dug in when we've been under the cosh and with the players we have we can score goals – that's been evident this season."