Smith still a believer as Hibees hold own destiny

Anthony Stokes' penalty – his 21st goal of the season – could not only have killed off Hearts' own hopes of European football but seen the Easter Road side leapfrog Motherwell and take pole position in the race for fourth ahead of Wednesday's clash in Lanarkshire.

Instead, goals from Suso Santana and David Obua, both aided by some woeful defending on the part of their opponents, has galvanised Hearts' push to overhaul their Capital rivals and left John Hughes' side still trailing in the wake of Motherwell. Nevertheless, the former Fir Park goalkeeper claimed he and his team-mates remain more than capable, a view shared by his manager, of reclaiming fourth place in the SPL table and with it the last automatic spot in next season's Europa League.

He said: "It's always disappointing to lose a big game such as this but we have to dust ourselves down and get ready for Wednesday, there's no point retreating into your shell.

"Qualifying for Europe is still in our own hands. Football can change very quickly, by next week we could all be jumping about again."

Smith revealed, however, that between now and Wednesday night's Euro showdown he'll be closely studying replays of the goals Hibs conceded, disclosing that until he does so he, like most inside Easter Road, will remain baffled as to how the ball managed to reach Obua for the winner.

He said: "I'm not 100 per cent sure what happened. I saw David Templeton cut back inside and the first thing you are wary of is a shot so you set yourself for it. He put the ball into a dangerous area and I felt I was getting it. One minute it was there, the next it wasn't.

"A couple of the lads said it took an awkward bounce but I'll look at it again. If I've been unlucky, I've been unlucky. If it's my fault then you take it on the chin, everyone has to take responsibility.

"It was really disappointing because when we scored I thought there was only one team going to go on and win the game."