Underfire Hibs boss says he can take the heat after cup exit

The quarter-final replay defeat by First Division Ross County has left Hibs fans furious with many turning on Hughes for the first time, questioning his team selection, formations, tactics and substitutions as they see a season which promised so much appear to be falling apart. The anger has also been stoked by the fact Hibs have won just once in nine matches, slipping to fifth in the SPL table although they remain just two points off third-placed Dundee United.

But while admitting he well understood the supporters' reaction to the events in Dingwall on Tuesday night, Hughes said: "It's not a problem, it's water off a duck's back. It goes with the territory, when we were riding high I was getting all the plaudits but that's how fickle football is, we are in a fickle business."

However, Hughes knows it's vital his side get back on track with a potentially tricky trip to face his old club Falkirk, battling against relegation, on Saturday, challenging his players to use the disappointments of this week, their Cup exit following a derby day defeat by Hearts, to drive them on.

He said: "Someone once said to me the bravest thing is the guy that starts a race, falls but gets back up to finish. I believe that success can come from disappointment, it has to motivate you.

"Tuesday night is done and dusted, it was a real disappointment but we have to pick ourselves up and be ready to go again. The good thing about football is you get that opportunity to try to put it right and it's up to the boys to stand up, show real character and desire and win."

Hughes' Cup plans were hampered by injuries to Chris Hogg, Paul Hanlon, Merouane Zemmama and Alan Gow but he refused to use their absence as an excuse, saying: "If you are in our first team you should be good enough to go out and play, hold down your position and win matches."

The Hibs boss has also insisted his players cannot simply feel sorry for themselves, as they prepare for a run which sees them face Falkirk, United, Celtic and Hamilton before the SPL split. He said: "We have a lot of big games coming up. As bad as we have been over the last month if we can hit a purple patch between now and the end of the season we'll see where that takes us."