DAVID MURPHY insists the onus is on cock-up keeper Ziggy Malkowski to lift himself after his Hampden horror show gifted Hearts an easy passage into the Scottish Cup Final.

Malkowski was badly at fault for two of Hearts' goals as the Tynecastle side slammed four past Hibs for the third time this season.

The Pole blundered badly when he allowed a Paul Hartley free-kick to sneak past him at his near post for No.2.

And he completely missed the ball after racing five yards outside his penalty area, leaving Edgaras Jankauskas to slot into an empty net for his side's third.

Murphy was less than impressed by the howlers, but admits only one person can help Malkowski.

He said: "Ziggy has got to do that himself. We can support him and encourage him, but he has to lift himself back up.

"It's not easy when you lose 4-0 to your biggest rivals. We played well in the first-half and created some decent chances but a couple of errors after the break meant the game was over.

"It was errors by certain players and they know who they are. I don't have to name them.

"They haven't really held their hands up and the rest of the boys are gutted.

"There was a big reward at the end of it but we didn't get it."

Hibs struggled without a number of regulars including the injured Scott Brown and suspended Derek Riordan.

But, Murphy insists they cannot afford to let their cup humiliation affect their quest to qualify for Europe via the SPL.

He said: "We had seven first-team players missing and that would be a big blow to any squad.

"That's football and we must pick ourselves up now. We've a big game on Wednesday against Kilmarnock and we need to win to go above them and try and catch Rangers. We need to put this behind us."

Along with Kevin Thomson, Steven Whittaker and Brown, Murphy has just committed his long-term future to Hibs. But with Garry O'Connor gone, Gary Caldwell leaving and Riordan almost certain to quit this summer he knows the squad badly lacks strength in depth.

He said: "There are a few boys who have signed long-term deals and that can only be good for the club.

"Hopefully we can get some new signings in the summer because we desperately need them."

Taken from the Daily Record