HIBS NEED STRONG REF

HIBS boss Tony Mowbray last night urged Stuart Dougal not to stand for any nonsense in the Scottish Cup semi-final clash with bitter rivals Hearts on Sunday.

Mogga fears the Hampden showpiece could be ruined by the diving and cheating evident in the British game last weekend.

Rudi Skacel was accused of diving in Hearts'2-1 win at Falkirk while Chelsea's Didier Drogba admitted to conning referees by "diving" on a TV interview before later retracting his confession.

But Mowbray is confident Dougal will ensure there are no further unsavoury incidents in Glasgow.

He said: "I know there's a lot at stake on both sides of the city. I'm pretty sure a strong referee will make sure the game is played in the right spirit and the team which plays most positively gets the right result.

"I'm sure the officials realise the importance of the game. It's not really something I'd normally comment on but the officials will be aware of the potential for an explosive game.

"They know what it means and I'm sure it will be handled with all the professionalism we expect." Mowbray, who yesterday welcomed the re-signing of Steven Whittaker and David Murphy, said: "I try to preach the right habits to the players.

"I didn't see any of the Scottish games at the weekend but I was aware of the incidents in the Chelsea game. When you see something you don't like from your players you get the message through that it's not what you want to see."

Mowbray admits his youthful side are not yet as streetwise as the current demands in the game but insists there is a "right"time to go down in matches.

He added: "There are times as a manager when you say,'Why hasn't he gone down there because you can see he's been kicked'.

"But there's a difference between being streetwise and trying to deceive people. I think my team are out of naive innocence an honest group of players. You get what you see basically.

"It's a job for the officials as you can't expect players to effect that. You hope every game of football is played in the right manner."

As well as the signings of Murphy and Whittaker on four and five-year deals respectively, Moroccan Abdessalam Benjellouna has received a work permit and has signed until 2010.

Hibs have also been boosted by the return of Scott Brown from a broken leg after just seven weeks and he is set to be on the bench at Hampden while Chris Killen also reckons he will be fit after an ankle injury.

Taken from the Daily Record