Wotherspoon glad Hibs Euro bid is still alive

The quirks of the SPL split have handed the Hibees a third journey to face the Steelmen, Craig Brown's men winning the last clash 1-0 in February while John Hughes' troops had stunned their hosts 3-1 in a scintillating display last September.

Goals from Colin Nish, Derek Riordan and Merouane Zemmama capped a fine performance that day as the Leith side enjoyed a sizzling start to their SPL campaign.

In recent months, though, Hibs have failed to hit anything close to that form as Motherwell – despite last weekend's 4-0 defeat to Celtic – have overtaken them in the league table.

Hibs can rectify that situation if they overcome their hosts tonight, as a victory would give them a two-point advantage over the Steelmen and leave them in the driving seat for a place in the Europa League qualifiers going into Sunday's final day of the season.

But defeat would leave Hibs' only hopes of European football resting on Dundee United – their final-day opponents – winning the Scottish Cup, and Wotherspoon said: "Motherwell have been one of the form sides in the run-in to the season and they haven't lost many games – although they suffered a heavy defeat to Celtic last weekend.

"No doubt that would have been a bit of a setback for them, but they still have everything to play for and they will be desperate to bounce back and make sure of fourth place against us. We are looking to get that victory to go above them, though, and we will have to be fully focused tonight to make sure that we do that. It would be a real disappointment for us to lose out on fourth at this stage of the season, considering the start that we had.

"We've been on a horrendous run in the last few games and we're all desperate to bring that to an end by getting all three points tonight.

"Obviously, both teams will feel a bit of pressure on them because there is an awful lot at stake. The outcome of the game will decide whether our season finishes on a high or a low.

"But we have been playing better in recent weeks, producing some decent football and having more possession."

Wotherspoon only emerged as a first-team player at the start of the campaign but proved an instant hit with the club's supporters.

He also made an impression, it seems, on his team-mates as he picked up the Young Player of the Year award at the Hibernian Players' Player of the Year dinner at the weekend.

He was delighted with the accolade, adding: "It has been a long season for me, it's my first season in the first team and I have really enjoyed it.

"To get an award on Sunday night was just terrific and I'm really proud to be part of the club.

"It's been great and it's nice when the fans start to recognise you and come up to you in the street to speak to you.

"I really appreciate that and the fact they take the time to talk to you and encourage you.

"I think that the awards dinner gave everyone a bit of a lift. The boys have been in good spirits in training in the last couple of days and we're all just looking forward to getting started tonight. We're really up for it.

"The last few days have been really busy with the Saturday game, the awards dinner on Sunday, then back into training on Monday morning.

"Everything is happening so quickly at the moment but, hopefully, it will all end on a positive note for us."

With Easter Road in the midst of building work to erect a new East Stand, Wotherspoon believes the stadium would be a fitting stage on which to play European football next season and beyond, continuing: "Getting into Europe would be just tremendous for the team, we just need to get ourselves over the finishing line.

"I think it would be fitting if we could get into Europe because we're going to have a fantastic stadium to play the games in very soon and, I'm sure, an atmosphere to go with it.

"Tonight could be the most boring game ever, but we don't care how we win it, all we are interested in is getting all three points."

Team-mate Liam Miller, who was named the Players' Player of the Year at the weekend, conceded that tonight's match and Sunday's final-day clash with Dundee United are as big as they come.

The Irishman said: "They are massive games for us. It's a must-win game tonight.

"It's a really important game, probably the match that can turn around our season and make it into a half-decent one."

Miller, acknowledged that his side have suffered a dip in form over the last couple of months but believes they can still achieve fourth place if they keep working hard.

He also conceded that he has been disappointed with his own performances in recent weeks and is hoping to raise the bar in the remaining games, and added: "Confidence probably plays a bit of a part, but the confidence is still there, like in training every day. It's more frustrating than anything else, but it's part and parcel of football, you need to get on with it. There is no point sitting being doom and gloom about it. With two games to go there is everything to play for.

"It's just a difficult one to pin. I think there have been some good performances, but results haven't gone our way and I don't know that if comes from just being unlucky, just the way things have gone or what it is. It is hard to pinpoint, but we've just got to keep going. With two games left, we've got every chance of qualifying in fourth.

"Things were going great early on, but things change one week from the next and we haven't quite turned in some performances into results we wanted. But it's not for the lack of trying. We've just got to keep going and tonight is the one we'll look to do that. One result can change everything for us, of course. We all know it's a massive game and we're all up for it."

He continued: "I don't think I've been playing as well lately as I have been. I've just got to keep working hard and hopefully the performances will turn around. I don't think it's a confidence thing, again it's hard to pinpoint. I've just got to keep working hard in training and you'd like to think the performances will come out on the pitch. It's all you really can do."

If they do leapfrog Motherwell and go on to finish in fourth place in the table, Miller believes that 2009-10 will go down as a successful season, despite the disappointment felt by the management, players and supporters over results and form in recent months.

"A European spot is what we wanted from day one and obviously we have a chance to do that. It's in our own hands and if we can win tonight we've got a great chance.

"Motherwell have gone on a good run and they are where they are. It comes down to the last two games. I think we are capable of getting over the line. It would be nice to end the season on a high."