Single-goal win would do for Hibs

HIBS boss John Hughes today insisted he'd happily settle for a 1-0 win over Junior outfit Irvine Meadow in this weekend's historic Scottish Cup clash declaring: "Anything more would be a bonus."

Hughes is well aware that both he and his players will be pilloried if that were to be the margin of victory but, he claimed, he's not even taking that for granted.

Although the wintry weather has curtailed Hughes' opportunities to watch "The Medda" in action, he did catch sight of them in a bounce game against St Mirren earlier in the week and believes they'll provide tougher opponents than many might think.

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He said: "They've got plenty of ex-senior players who have been there and done it, they are a good side, big, well-organised. They are flying the flag for Junior football and this is their Cup final.

"We know this is a massive, massive banana skin for us but a 1-0 win would be more than acceptable. People will probably crucify us if that were to be the case but I'd far rather be in the next round looking to see who is coming out of the hat with us than facing a replay at Irvine or not being in the draw at all.

"We must be nothing less than professional but we also need to be patient. There will the pass that goes astray, the tackle or header we lose. Irvine may get in a few crosses and shots, they might play their football in our half for five minutes so we have to make sure we treat them with complete respect."

Meanwhile, Hughes admitted he may lose interest in Falkirk skipper Darren Barr having found his attempts to secure the Scotland defender on a pre-contract agreement thwarted. Talks have been held but they appear to have stalled and today Hughes revealed: "I'd never say never but there are plenty of others out there. The other side of the coin, though, is that players are entitled to do what they think is best for them."

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