Alan Stubbs insists that the squad are all looking forward to the Edinburgh Derby tomorrow in the William Hill Scottish Cup Fifth Round at Tynecastle after a busy week on the road.
Hibs played in front of a packed Tynecastle last weekend and emerged as victors against another top flight team in St Johnstone then travelled along the M8 to Greenock where they disposed of Morton in a hard fought encounter.
The Hibs’ Head Coach accepts that it will be a difficult task to progress and expects a close game.
Speaking to Hibs TV ahead of the clash against Heart of Midlothian, Stubbs said: “The players are really looking forward to it, you can’t beat a derby. The expectation, the anticipation going into the game, there’s a mix of everything. There’s a mix of nerves – especially from the fans – excitement, and there’s a buzz that only derbies can give you.
“We are relishing the game, we are going to go there and be positive, be on the front foot and look to progress in the Scottish Cup. It has the making of a great tie. It is the tie of the round, there’s no doubt about that.
“We are going to go there and we are going to perform. The most important thing is to win the game. and if we do that there are other elements that fall into place, such as the fans and the bragging rights.
“We came through our last two games with flying colours and we have an opportunity to go to Tynecastle on Sunday but we know it is going to be difficult. It will be a game with two teams who have both improved since past season and whose form is good.
“It has the making of another close game. Our games against them since I came here have been very close. we’ve won one, lost one and drew two.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
