Falkirk Loss Confuses Stubbs

Head coach Alan Stubbs has said that he couldn’t believe Hibernian lost to Falkirk in the Scottish Cup semi final – and his comments have certainly sparked a response.

Speaking immediately after the game that saw a late goal for Falkirk despite Hibs dominating possession and chances – the simple fact is we didn’t make our chances count and for Stubbs that did lead to a certain ‘disbelief’ after the game because he knew we should’ve done far more to ensure our passage to the final.

‘My reaction is the same as everybody else. It’s one of disbelief that we haven’t come through that. We controlled the entire game and that makes it worse. It’s the worst time to lose in a competition because you are so close but so far. I just wish we had some of the luck the opposition had today. We have to be more clinical. You have to take your chances. An element of that was down to the luck they carried. You can accept one coming off the post and back into the keeper’s arms, but when you have another you maybe start to think, ‘is it one of those days?’

Well it was one of those days for us, and our 114 year wait goes on sadly.

‘We feel like we’ve done more than enough for it to be us in the final.’

More than enough other than score unfortunately.

Our gaffer’s post game words seemed to irk Falkirk boss Peter Houston though he said himself.

‘After every game we’ve played against Hibs this season, they’ve deserved to win, according to Alan. What he should maybe think about is where we’re getting our goals from – crosses into the box. Deal with it. That’s what I would do. As a coach, I’d be saying to my team that we need to stop crosses because every time they put one in they score goals. Go back and look at the videos – they can’t deal with crosses into the box. I’d say that’s his problem and not mine. Rather than say only one team deserved to win he should think about how the team beat you. That’s three times we’ve beat Hibs this season and we drew 3-3 after being 3-1 down at Easter Road. So I’d be concerning myself with losing goals, the way Hibs lose them to us.’

Stubbs was unrepentant though.

‘Peter is entitled to his opinions. He is a very experienced manager who has been there a long time. I’ll take his words on board – thanks for that. Look at the table. We’ve scored more goals than the rest of the teams. We’ve got a better goal difference than the rest of the teams. So we’re not doing too bad. I’m thankful to Peter for pointing this out to us. I’m always looking to learn. Obviously he’s been around a lot longer than me and I’m in my first season as a manager. We’re doing okay.’

He was further asked if this might add some spice to the final game of the season and he said.

‘It might do. We’re focusing now on going up in the play-offs. So we’ll just concentrate on that.’

In other coverage of his response to Houston’s barbs, he said.

‘I honestly thought with our performance that we played well enough to be in the final. I don`t see anything wrong with that. But, listen, the facts of the matter are that we`re not in the final. Everyone in the press room witnessed me saying ‘good luck` to Falkirk. I didn`t see that come out. It was my honest opinion that I felt we had done enough in the game to get into the final. I don`t think anyone would deny that or say I was talking gibberish.’

And as for the record in games against them this season, he added.

‘I think you need to ask Peter what he said when he came into my office when we got beat 1-0 in the first game. It certainly was not what he said in the press.’

Also for the crosses barb.

‘Our goals for is the third best in the table, our goals against is the second best. We have a goal difference that is plus 27 compared to Falkirk. When you put that up against a real experienced manager and novice, then I`m doing okay.’

Going on to add.

‘I need to be careful what I say here. I think we all concede goals from crosses. I think if Peter looks at his own team here, they have conceded a lot of goals from crosses as well. Whether it is crosses or open play, that`s football. You score goals in different ways. We have scored more than most this season. I won`t change, but I will take his comments on board. It is up to Peter if he wants to state that. I did not say anything about Peter`s team.’

Stubbs did however add that having had a good relationship with Houston previously, he didn’t see any reason why that would change now as they are both emotional and passionate characters and things do get said in the heat of the moment and possibly misinterpreted so you shouldn’t take them to heart.

‘I don`t see why it should change. We are emotional. You say things after games in the heat of the moment when you have a microphone stuck under you straightaway. I won`t change. I still have a lot of respect for Peter and what he has done. It`s funny the way football works. People will make something of it and what has happened. But, for someone who is so inexperienced, I am not soft.’