Mowbray Rues Injuries

Hibernian manager Tony Mowbray believes his side could have been challenging for the top three this season – if they had stayed clear of injuries.

Mowbray’s squad has been decimated by injuries to key players since the turn of the year – losing the likes of Scott Brown, Guillaume Beuzelin and Michael Stewart for long spells – which has hurt their campaign.

Scotland international striker Garry O’Connor also departed for Russian outfit Lokomotiv Moscow in March in a £1.6million move.

The Easter Road men still sit fourth in the Bank of Scotland Premier League table, but trail second-placed Hearts by 15 points and are only now three ahead of Aberdeen.

While pleased at a season that has seen Hibs beat Rangers three times and reach the Tennent’s Scottish Cup semi-finals, Mowbray feels much more could have been achieved if his squad had stayed intact.

Ahead of Tuesday’s visit of the Ibrox outfit to Leith, he said: “Up until just after the new year we were ahead of even two points a game. If we’d continued for the whole season it would have taken us to 70-odd points and finished us pretty high up the table.

“We were going well but have been slightly derailed by players not being available to the team. We’ve had a bit of bad fortune that we’re probably missing four starting players from midfield.

“When my players are all available we can compete with anyone in the league – but the team will keep improving, I’ve no fears about that.”

Ian Murray insists there is no way Hibernian will throw their Bank of Scotland Premier League game against Rangers even if it costs them a place in Europe.

Rangers need a win at Easter Road to keep alive their hopes of pipping Hearts to the runners-up spot and a place in the Champions League next season.

Hibs are chasing fourth place in the SPL but they are well aware that that will only provide a UEFA Cup spot if Rangers finish second.

Otherwise, the remaining European berth goes to Bell’s Second Division side Gretna for reaching the Tennent’s Scottish Cup final with Hearts.

That leaves Hibs in the position of wanting to win the game – but knowing they will wreck their own UEFA Cup hopes if they do.

Even so, Rangers utility man Murray claims his former team-mates are too honest to intentionally lose the game.

“I don’t think it’s quite as cut and dried as that,” he said of Scottish football’s latest conspiracy theory.

“I don’t think anybody can go out on the park to intentionally lose.

“It’s not as though someone is going to score four own goals or give away penalties so it’s unacceptable that people think Hibs are going to intentionally throw a game of football.

“They have their own pride to play for and Hibs fans certainly won’t let their team deliberately short-change anybody. They’ve paid their money to watch Hibs.”





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