Hibs striker Anthony Stokes will be fired up by goal 'robbery'

HIBS boss John Hughes today claimed being "robbed" of a goal will simply make Easter Road striker Anthony Stokes all the more determined to hit his target of 25 for the season.

The Republic of Ireland internationalist (pictured) has been stripped of his recent strike at Falkirk by the SPL's dubious goals panel, who have credited it, the second in Hibs' 3-1 win, as an own goal by the Bairns' Marc Twaddle.

As a result, Stokes is back on the 19-goal mark, six short of his target with only six matches of the season remaining.

Hughes said: "Anthony will be bitterly disappointed at the decision because his shot was heading goalwards. Like any striker, he just loves scoring goals and I'm sure this will fire him up between now and the end of the season.

"He's set that target of 25 for himself and to hit it he'll now have to get a goal a game. If he does that it will be great for him but, more importantly, the team."

Stokes will get his chance to repair the damage done to his goals tally when Hibs face Hamilton tomorrow with Hughes believing the memory of their last visit to New Douglas Park, even although it was seven months ago, will provide plenty motivation for his players.

Recalling the 2-0 defeat, he said: "There's been four or five times we've really let ourselves down this season and that was certainly one of them, a performance which made us realise we were going to have to be much improved."