One-season wonder jibes could spur Hibs

IAIN COLLIN

AS IF a derby-day drubbing at the hands of their fiercest foes was not enough to sink them into the depths of despair, the young Hibs side were forced to listen to Hearts fans taunting them with accusations of "one-season wonders" as they trudged off the Tynecastle pitch last Sunday.

Not so, according to manager Tony Mowbray, even, that is, if they fail to repeat last term's feat of finishing third in the SPL and qualifying for Europe.

Mowbray is wise enough to realise that even if his side continue to make the kind of prodigious progress that made them arguably the most entertaining outfit to watch in Scotland last season, his team could still find it difficult to retain that coveted third spot.

Hibs cannot - or will not - compete with Hearts' lavish spending or the cash splashed out by Dundee United and Aberdeen in the summer. But Mowbray will not let financial disparity, or the matter of a whipping from their city rivals, curb the belief that he has a side still capable of competing at the top end of the table.

"The only reaction I'm interested in is that of my team and that was positive enough," he said ahead of today's meeting with Livingston. "Words to me are cheap, regarding 'one season wonders'. What happens out on the football field is what matters and I will judge the team and the progress that has been made over the course of a season."

"It doesn't necessarily mean we have to finish third to have a fantastic season. If we manage to play a brand of football that excites the supporters and they enjoy watching us it doesn't mean we have to win every game."

Mowbray believes Hibs are "more than capable of giving the Old Firm a good game," a sentiment echoed yesterday by striker Garry O'Connor, who this week was selected for the Scotland squad for next week's friendly with Austria.

"It's the worst game I've played in," said O'Connor. "To get beaten by your rivals 4-0, at Tynecastle too, it's a hard one to take. Obviously it gets to you a little bit when people are saying we are one-season wonders and you want to go out and prove them wrong.

"All the players believe we can go and finish third and challenge the Old Firm."

Hibs, who today will have new signing Humphrey Rudge in the squad, received an off-field boost yesterday when it was announced Old Firm sponsors Carling had agreed to sponsor the club in the UEFA Cup this season.

Regular shirt backers Whyte and Mackay are banned from European games because of a ruling on high-strength liquor sponsorship.

Taken from the Scotsman