Hibs boss: Top six is in our own hands

Jack Ross has insisted Hibs still have their top-six destiny in their own hands despite the Easter Road side suffering back to back defeats and having picked up just one point from their last three Premiership matches.

Although sixth in the table, the capital outfit lie just one point ahead of St Johnstone who they face in Edinburgh on Saturday while the Saints also have a game in hand.

But while admitting to being frustrated at losing to Aberdeen at Pittodrie at the weekend, Hibs going down 3-1 despite leading through Christian Doidge’s 18th goal of the season after Steven Whittaker picked up a second yellow card, Ross backed his players to bounce back from a disappointment which followed a derby defeat only days earlier.

“I’m okay that way with them,” he said when asked if his players now face a test of character. “Because they have shown it. When I took the job in November we were pretty much a point per game and in amongst a relegation battle.

“So they have shown a lot of character to pull themselves away from that and give themselves that latter part of the season when people all of a sudden were talking about them challenging for third and fourth.

“It was always going to be a big ask for us but I was happy to have that as a carrot or goal. Character is not a problem, they are a good group that way. It’s been a sore week for us, we haven’t had many weeks like that recently, having two back to back defeats.

“We have a clear week and when that (the St Johnstone game) comes, we will be okay.”

Ross revealed he believes the race for a top six finish will go to the last game before the split, Hibs travelling to play Hamilton and then hosting Celtic following this weekend’s match against the Saints.

He said: “I always felt there was a bit of work for top six, you look at Kilmarnock’s form until their last couple of games while St Johnstone’s form of late is probably similar to the run we put together to propel ourselves up the table.

“I’ve never felt there were six teams clear away from the others. The league has remained incredibly tight all year probably from third downwards and I’d imagine it will continue to be the same.

“The good thing is our destiny is in our own hands rather than having to chase something. It’s a big game for us on Saturday but one we will handle okay.”