Michael Weir: Third-place finish is within Hibs' grasp

I’ve always said it’s not what you do at the start of a season that counts, but the way you finish it.

Yes, Hibs had some early-season problems, but as we hit the final straight they’ve built up a head of steam and are putting results together just when it matters.

Not so long ago a top-six finish was seen as a reasonable target given what had gone before but now, rightly, fourth looks very achievable and, the way things are going at the moment, ending up third could just be within our grasp.

We’ve put ourselves in a really good position following the winter break with the week just ended being a great one for us, a place in the quarter-finals at home to Inverness Caley secured and six points from our two league games.

I’d go as far as to say the result at Rugby Park was the best result Jack Ross has had since he became head coach and, yes, I rate it even above our win at Tynecastle. Kilmarnock, like ourselves, have been bang in form, three straight wins in the Premiership and, of course, with that terrific win over Rangers only a few days earlier.

On an artificial pitch in, again, dreadful conditions, the manager and players deserve great credit for the performance they produced. They might have had to be very resilient as Killie threw everything at them as they tried to get an equaliser, but they stood up to that test magnificently and have put themselves right in the mix.

There’s no doubt momentum has swung our way and there will be few teams not looking forward to playing Hibs at the minute. No-one wants to step onto the pitch to take on a side that’s winning every week.

Looking at the fixtures coming up, there’s plenty of room for optimism, although Aberdeen away will be a massive match and, as everyone knows, anything can happen in a derby.

To my mind Ross has probably been the most successful manager when it comes to his dealings in the transfer window. He’s stepped back, had a look at what was needed and, although it’s difficult to make sweeping changes at this time of year, he’s brought a freshness and a new impetus to the side.

It always baffles me when people talk about tactics. The game is all about players and it’s obvious if you bring in better players you improve the squad and the team.

Ross has done that. The players brought in last month – Marc McNulty, Greg Docherty, Paul McGinn and Stephane Omeonga – have made us better. Good players can always play with good players and now we have more forward-thinking players, a side capable of scoring goals from different areas, not just having to rely on the strikers.

I still think there is a bit of work to be done at the back, but they’ve shown they are capable of digging in for the win.