HIBS ARE BACK ON FORM AT JUST THE RIGHT TYNE
By Gary Ralston

HIBS striker Steven Fletcher reckons the team are bang on form again in time for their visit to Tynecastle.

Tony Mowbray's side shrugged off recent indifferent results to record an impressive 3-1 win over Dunfermline at Easter Road.

The win was the perfect pick-me-up ahead of their visit to Gorgie on Saturday as the Jambos' defeat at Kilmarnock narrowed the gap between the clubs to six points.

Eighteen year-old Fletcher equalled his tally for the whole of last season with an injury-time strike that took his total so far in this campaign to five.

He said: "The win was a great confidence booster and we can hopefully take it into the derby match.

"We've always believed we can finish in a higher position than Hearts this season and hopefully we will.

"It was still a wee bit edgy when we were 2-1 up against Dunfermline but it was good to score the third and settle us again.

"My shot wasn't deflected - it went straight in off the outside of my boot and managed to wrong-foot the keeper.

"The goal has really given me a lot of confidence.

"My tally for the whole of last season was only five and now I've almost beaten it halfway through this season, which is really pleasing."

Fletcher has been marked out as a long-term successor to Garry O'Connor and Derek Riordan in the Hibs attack.

Mowbray reckons his physical presence still has to develop before he can lead the line consistently but time is on Fletcher's side and for now he's happy to watch and learn from the bench.

He added: "The gaffer has told me when I'm sitting on the sides to pick things up from how Garry and Derek play.

"Derek's two goals today were brilliant and he really has such terrific technique on the ball.

"Whenever he gets a free- kick at the edge of the box you always think he's capable of scoring.

"He finds the net like that all the time in training."

Taken from the Daily Record