WE GOT LIFT FROM DROP - MOWBRAY'S JOY AFTER JAMBOS AXED STARS

TONY Mowbray admitted last night his victorious Hibees had been given a massive lift when they saw who derby rivals Hearts had dropped yesterday.

Andy Webster and Edgar Jankauskas were in the stand and Rudi Skacel was on the bench for the Jambos as the Easter Road side went on to win 2-1.

Mogga was delighted to see so many quality players sidelined and reckons Hearts should be fielding their stars regardless of their contractual situation.

He said: "I'm big on psychology and we got a great psychological lift when we saw the Hearts team sheet. It was good to see the likes of Andy Webster wasn't playing.

"Clubs have their own agendas and policies but ours is we play the strongest team available to win as many games as we can.

"In this Bosman era players are going to let their contracts run down and you have to accept that. If we had a problem with it we wouldn't be playing Gary Caldwell and Derek Riordan.

"Our policy is to play our strongest team - regardless of the contract situation some of our players might be in."

Caldwell and keeper Ziggy Malkowski played a part in gifting Hearts their equaliser and Mowbray said: "It was a long ball through the middle and it should have been dealt with. Gary held his hands up in the dressing-room at half-time.

"Not coming in at the break a goal ahead hit us hard. It was a huge psychological dent.

"Credit to my players for showing character and sticking at it to get the winning goal.

"Substitutions can sometimes swing a game and it happened here. It had a positive impact and it's great to have options on the bench."

Paul Dalglish and Abessalam Benjelloun came on for Oumar Konde and Steven Fletcher and the subs combined for Benji's winner in 78 minutes.

Mowbray said: "Benji is a player I'm excited about for next season. Once he gets a pre-season under his bet he will be a huge asset.

"He's getting married in the summer and has English lessons three times a week. That will benefit him and the club.

"Every day in training he scores goals with his right foot and his left foot, real impressive stuff. He's a great kid and a footballer with a bright future."

Hibs' first goal, from Riordan, should have been disallowed after Fletcher had moved into an offside position but Mowbray said: "I don't know about that and to be honest I'm not bothered.

"The referee has given it and that's all that matters."

Hearts interim head coach Valdas Ivanauskas said: "It was a hard game for the referee to control and I have no problem with him."

Hibees' goal hero Riordan admitted he also fancied his chances as soon as he saw Hearts' centre-half pairing.

The 23-year-old said: "Webster's a good player, he has played well all season. But that's Hearts for you. You never know what you're going to get.

"Christophe Berra's still young and Ibrahim Tall was making his first start so we took confidence from that."

Riordan's derby scoring record is outstanding but he admitted: "That's the first time we've actually WON one I've scored in.

"It was a great result, especially after the cup semi. But hopefully it won't be my last derby. I'm still here until October anyway.

"Obviously I hope Hearts miss out on second. That's what will give us a chance of Europe."

Taken from the Sunday Mail