Smith set on playing for keeps at Hibs

And rather than be disappointed at watching boss John Hughes snap up Brown on a free transfer barely a month after he arrived, the 26-year-old insisted he's relishing the challenge. Graham Stack and Yves Ma-Kalambay will also have their say with Hibs now, arguably, possessing the strongest group of goalkeepers outwith the Old Firm with Hughes convinced he's now solved what he regarded as a problem position.

Having arrived on New Year's Day at a time when both Stack and Ma-Kalambay were sidelined through injury, Smith has been given the nod for every game since, a spell in which Hibs have restated their determination to finish "best of the rest" at least, culminating in a maximum nine points from the past week's matches.

And today he warned his rivals he is in no mood to relinquish that position although he recognises the others will be equally anxious to dethrone him. He said: "I got my chance coming in at a time when Stacky and Maka were hurt, playing against Hearts in the derby in my first game and I feel I have done okay."

A string of outstanding saves, notably from Niall McGinn before Danny Galbraith's last-gasp winner at Celtic Park and again from Billy Mehmet in the opening minutes of Saturday's equally dramatic victory over St Mirren, have endeared Smith to the fans.

But he knows it is Hughes he has to convince on a daily basis, the Hibs manager having reacted swiftly after being left with only the untested 19-year-old Thomas Flynn as cover at one stage.

Smith said: "When I arrived we already had two goalkeepers here plus young Thomas, now it's not just three but four. We've now got a strong bunch of goalkeepers, as a group probably up there with the Old Firm who always carry a number of good goalkeepers.

"The manager has said he wants to make this a tough position to play and he's certainly done that. It's up to me to put in the performances which are felt good enough to keep me in.

"But I am sure the other three have that exact same mindset, that they are good enough to be No.1. Like Stacky and Maka Mark will have arrived fancying his chances of getting the gloves.

"I certainly believe I am good enough to play week in, week out. I'm in possession of them at the moment and hopefully I can keep them. But having four of us going for the one position can only be good for the club."

While now facing a daily fight for that place on a Saturday afternoon, Smith and Brown are the best of pals having begun their careers together at Rangers although both were forced to go elsewhere in search of first-team football. Smith headed for Motherwell before turning his back on Hibs only to suffer an ill-fated six months in England with Brighton before being given a second chance at Easter Road.

Brown, for his part, followed the same route initially, moving to Fir Park before joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle and then Celtic where, again, he found first-team football elusive, resulting in him spending the first half of this season on loan at Kilmarnock.

Smith said: "Mark was a couple of years older than me at Rangers but we know each other well. He's a good lad and a good professional. With four good goalkeepers and young Thomas (Flynn] pushing as well, every day is going to be a battle in training.

"It can only bring out the best in you so I'm looking to kick on, keep my place and do well for the club."

Although a bit older and much wiser, Smith believes Hibs now have the sort of competition for the gloves which made it so tough for young goalkeepers like himself and Brown to make the breakthrough at Ibrox.

He said: "The pecking order at that time was Stefan Klos, Lionel Charbonnier and Antti Niemi. Then there was Allan McGregor and Mark while I was the youngest, it was a great set-up to work in.

"Now it's not really any different, we all just want to play first-team football."

Although the competition will be tough among the goalkeepers, Smith insisted Brown will find nothing but smiling faces at Hibs' East Mains Training Centre with Hughes' side riding high in the SPL having reasserted themselves in third place having come from behind to beat St Mirren to complete a memorable week.

A dramatic own goal from Saints' Jack Ross sealed victory just when it looked as if Hughes' players were having to settle for a point, but while some may describe it as lucky, Smith was adamant he and his team-mates deserved their stroke of good fortune. He said: "We needed a bit of luck but I feel we created it for ourselves by forcing them back for the last five minutes and, to my mind, good teams always get it more than others.

"It was a massive three points for us, a win which made the three points at Celtic all the more important. Then we got a bonus again of Dundee United and other teams dropping points – these are the days you need.

"It wasn't pretty and it probably wasn't great to watch but as a group of players we were delighted to get a maximum nine points from those three games.

"Now we can focus on the Scottish Cup this weekend, something different, and then get our heads back into the League the next week."

Smith also admitted a few days on the training ground will also help eradicate the sort of misunderstanding which saw Sol Bamba steer the ball past him to give Saints the lead.

There was absolutely no danger when the Buddies' Steven Robb drifted in a hopeful cross but the big defender, playing with Smith for the first time, stuck out his boot and connected much to his goalkeeper's bemusement.

Smith said: "It was one of those things that happen. I'd only met Sol for the first time an hour or so before the game and while you can build up a rapport with your defenders it does take a bit more than ten minutes.

"It would have been good to train together for even just an hour to see how each other moves and works. I felt there was no need to give him a shout because I never thought he'd go for the ball but probably because he hadn't heard anything from me he felt he had to do something.

"It was unfortunate but the boys showed great character again and played right to the final whistle."