Jack Ross singles out unsung hero at Hibs after win over Hamilton

Jack Ross has praised the character of Paul Hanlon after the Hibs defender overcame a shaky first half to claim the winning goal against Hamilton Accies.

And the Easter Road head coach has urged Hanlon’s team-mates Vykintas Slivka and Melker Hallberg to overcome their personal hurt at being substituted at half-time and enjoy the victory.

Ross was forced to make the changes following what he described as the poorest performance he had seen since arriving at the club, a feckless opening 45 minutes resulting in Hibs trailing to Alex Gogic’s header.

Daryl Horgan was also introduced into the action only minutes later as the capital outfit got their act together, striker Christian Doidge equalising before Hanlon headed home his first goal of the season just four minutes from time.

But Ross singled out Hanlon - who had turned 30 two days earlier - for special mention, saying: “Characters like Paul and others get overlooked in football because there were times in the first half, like a lot of others, he was having a difficult period.

“People become aware of everything that’s going on around about them. That’s football. It’s played by human beings but what separates the ones that can play at the top level, the elite level, is their character to go and produce in the second half.

“So I was delighted for him, delighted that he kept taking the ball, defending properly and he got his reward with the winning goal as well.”

Admitting there were other candidates for “the hook” at half-time, Ross said: “It was way below where we need to be, the poorest it had been since I came to the club. The decision-making was mine, but the hard bit is for the players who go on.

“All three had really good performances alongside those who remained on the park. But I do give this message to the players after we win games or after we do well, that they all contribute all the time, whether it’s in training or in games.

“I am conscious of those who came off, Melker and Vicky have to enjoy that win just as much. They will find it hard because they will be disappointed individually but they are very much part of the squad and half made a big contribution.

“At half-time I could probably have changed more than that, but the contribution of the players in the second half was really good.”

Ross added on Hibs TV: “We played at a much higher tempo, the quality of play was good, we created chances and kept pushing even although we had players that were starting to feel it physically because there were a number of bodies who had not played a lot of football lately.

“It’s testament to their character and fitness levels that they were able to dig deep to do that.”