Stubbs Previews Falkirk Test

With Hibernian facing Falkirk in the first of the Scottish Cup semi finals at Hampden on Saturday, head coach Alan Stubbs has called on the team to take confidence from the victory over Hearts into the game and make it another match where despite not profiting really in the three previous encounters, we come away this time with victory.

Having done just that against Hearts, we have lost twice and drawn once against this weekend’s opponent and Stubbs knows there’s no better time to pick up the win at the fourth time of asking.

Speaking to the Edinburgh News with preparations now well underway for the game, the gaffer explained.

‘The situation with Falkirk is very similar to the one we had with Hearts and it`s something we want to try and correct. 
Performance-wise I think we have performed okay against them, but I`m very aware that it will be a really difficult game, one that we`ll need to be at our best. The most important thing is coming through the game and getting into the final. There`s obviously a lot at stake, the chance to get to the final of the most prestigious cup competition in Scotland. It`s a huge 
carrot dangling in front of us.’

With Celtic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle meeting on Sunday in their semi final tie, avoiding them Stubbs knows has given us a real chance but it’s a chance that won’t count for anything unless we now get the win.

‘There`s no doubt this is the draw we both wanted. When the draw was being made I`m sure Peter was looking to get ourselves. He`d have wanted to stay away from Celtic and Inverness. We were no different. It`s not being disrespectful or over-confident. If we`d had a choice, I think we would both have picked the same. We both have the chance to take our teams to a major cup final. It`s not going to be easy – I think the results this season prove that – but it is one we are really looking forward to now.’

Of course there was something else and not just a derby victory to celebrate so far this week, the Hearts win coupled with Falkirk’s own defeat to Queen of the South means that Hibernian’s play off spot for the season is now guaranteed and Stubbs knows that should be a huge boost to the players ahead of the remaining games.

‘I was delighted to learn our play-off place was guaranteed. It was one of the objectives we had set and to have done it with three games to spare is great.’