Jack Ross praises defence but admits Hibs were flat in Motherwell stalemate

Hibs head coach Jack Ross was happy with another clean sheet against Motherwell but admitted his team were flat throughout the game.

The Easter Road side had just two efforts on target against the Steelmen and lost their 100 per cent after winning their opening three games.

However, the point was enough to take them back to the top of the Scottish Premiership table on Saturday night ahead of Rangers' match against Livingston on Sunday.

Ross said: “We’re disappointed in terms of how we were in possession but not our application and our willingness to defend properly.

"I think individually our defensive players have been good all season. I think the fact we haven't conceded from open play is testament to that. “The defence can take great confidence from that because it was an area of the pitch we were criticised for last season.

"Ofir Marciano hasn't had a lot of saves to make in the four games; the save today is the first one where we’ve really needed to rely on him.

“He's trained really well, he's looked good and looked confident so when he is called upon, he can make saves like that at that point in the game.

"We're in a good place defensively, it's just making sure we do the other side of the game properly as well.”

With the bulk of the players in green and white playing their third game in a week, it was perhaps little surprise that one or two started to look a bit heavy-legged late on.

Ross added: “I don't think we played anywhere near the level we're at on the ball tonight. We looked flat overall, but off the ball we were solid and it gave us that platform to take something from it.

"Ten points from twelve is a very good start for us.

"If we had drawn the game against Kilmarnock and then won the next three, I would be standing here waxing lyrical about our start to the season.”

The Easter Road boss didn’t dismiss the possibility of more new faces, including Rangers midfielder Ross McCrorie, but insisted that he isn’t unhappy with his squad as things stand.

Ross continued: “We are actively obviously trying to do that, whether that will have progressed any further [by next week] I don't know.

"I think beyond that it would depend on things moving the other way, but I think that would happen if we get players in.

"But we are okay at the moment. I can't not be satisfied with what I have because the evidence is there in terms of taking ten points from twelve.”