Nine games and counting for Hibs

That's the stark reality facing Easter Road boss John Hughes today as he bids to haul his once high-flying side out of the nosedive which threatens to entirely shatter the dreams held by so many.

It's hard to believe that, only a few weeks ago, these self-same players were being talked of as potentially splitting the Old Firm, and even a tilt at the title itself wasn't being regarded as outwith their reach.

As for the Scottish Cup, after wins over Junior outfit Irvine Meadow, the Third Division's bottom side Montrose and a quarter-final draw against First Division Ross County this was, after more than a century of pain, going to be Hibs' year. Wasn't it?

That particular dream crashed and burned in spectacular fashion as the Highland side, as they had done in forcing a replay in Edinburgh, once again out-fought and out-played their SPL visitors at their little Victoria Park in Dingwall, rightly earning themselves a big day out against Celtic at Hampden on Saturday, 10 April.

Aware of the prize which had been ripped from his hands by Scott Boyd's dramatic winner just 14 seconds from time, Hughes was left with little to do but congratulate Derek Adams' side and wish them all the best for the future.

Publicly displaying a sense of exasperation and frustration, inside former Hibs skipper Hughes was seething, branding his players "soft" and lacking in the required mental strength to cope when the pressure is on, unable to deal with adversity – as he'd seen Rangers do so dramatically in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final just two days earlier.

As bitterly disappointing as yet another Cup exit might have been, however, Hughes and his players must immediately refocus their attention on the only prize now on offer, namely a place in European football next season, hopefully by attaining the manager's stated goal of finishing third in the SPL, Hearts boss Jim Jefferies helping turn up the heat by seizing on his Capital rivals' wobbles and claiming the Jambos can rein in the seven-point gap which currently separates the Edinburgh clubs.

And, with just five points out of a possible 21 from the last seven league matches, even die-hard Hibs fans are beginning to wonder if that is a possibility.

And a growing number are beginning to openly question Hughes' own role, his team selections, formations and tactics, something which seemed unthinkable during that unbeaten 12-match run which saw the Easter Road side charge up the table.

However, in embarking on close analysis of what's gone wrong, Hughes promised he won't exempt himself from examination, insisting that everyone involved with the club is "in it together".

Time, though, is short, with the first of those nine remaining league matches, away to Falkirk, only 48 hours away.

And Hughes' old club are fighting for their top-flight existence as games for them also begin to disappear.

It won't be easy, as Hughes acknowledged in saying: "They'll be up for it, all my ex-players.

"When you come up against your old manager you always want to show what he has left behind."

A visit from Euro rivals Dundee United quickly follows, as do ex-Hibs boss Tony Mowbray's Celtic, whose job appears to be hanging by a thread after last night's defeat at St Mirren, before Hibs complete their programme with a trip to in-form Hamilton, who have pulled away from the relegation zone.

As Hughes said in the wake of defeat in the Highlands, his team are much better than recent evidence would suggest but it is clear to one and all that what is missing is confidence, that intangible quality which soars as the wins rack up, as happened over the course of October, November and December but which disappears just as quickly when fortune turns.

The secret for Hughes now, though, is how to reverse Hibs' fortunes. The squad of players at his disposal is the same, and strengthened over the course of the January transfer window with the arrival of Graeme Smith, Alan Gow and Mark Brown.

Between now and the end of the season it will be those self-same players who will be entrusted with lifting the doom and gloom which has descended upon the east end of Edinburgh. Hughes, however, is caught between a rock and hard place, aware morale is fragile he can hardly rip into the players as many fans would have him do, the danger in doing so being to totally destroy what confidence remains within the dressing room.

He said: "I'm not going to have a massive go at them, we need to keep them together and see where it takes us. I have to try to get the best out of them.

"I can talk about how we are a better football side than we showed the other night but you have to put that into perspective. It was our biggest game of the season, we had to go there with self-belief, to show we were the best on the park and express ourselves. We had to make it happen but we did not to that, we waited for it to happen rather than make it happen."

While claiming that was understandable given Hibs' recent run, Hughes added: "It's a test of your character. As a former player I have been in that hole myself when you feel that the world is on your shoulders whatever you do. I'll be saying to the players to give it their best shot, that whatever they get they will have worked for."

Having admitted many of his team's woes have been self- inflicted, asking "when was the last time a team scored a right good goal against us?" – Hughes admitted the fragility of his players' confidence was such that their decision making, particularly in the final quarter of the pitch, has been "abysmal".

He added: "We've looked like individuals rather than team players."

That, of course, is a consequence of faltering morale, players becoming over-anxious, rushing passes, making ill-advised decisions and trying the outrageous rather than the simple option, as was evident at Victoria Park when, time after time, promising situations evaporated.

Only the day before Hughes had talked of players failing to succeed because of the fear of failing, his task today, tomorrow and every day between now and the middle of May will be to reassure each individual by reminding them of the brand of football of which they are truly capable.

It's the first major test of Hughes' managerial skills since his arrival at Easter Road, one which was greeted with near universal approval and one which restored a feelgood factor around the club. As Hughes has said on many occasions, he can't guarantee success, but, by the same token, he knows full well that, having stuck his chin out, he'll be judged by many on whether or not he delivers European football.

As he said: "At the end of the season you get all your answers, hopefully the boys will come up with positive answers.

"We are where we are. Every game is a big game, the reason being that we have done so well."