Hibernian boss Jack Ross has admitted that avoiding the pain that the team’s loss to Hearts in last year’s Scottish Cup semi-final is motivating the side ahead of a return to Hampden.
Hibernian take on St Johnstone in the Betfred Cup semi-final tomorrow. It is their first visit to the national stadium since a 2-1 loss to Hearts in October’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
Ross disclosed that he doesn’t want to feel the same why he did after that game after the game against St Johnstone.
“It’s painful and it hurts”
“It’s painful, and it hurts, and it’s sore. It might sound very obvious, but the rawness of that is felt very acutely but those that are involved at the coalface, it you like” he said.
Christian Doidge scores for Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“It was painful that evening for us, we don’t want to have that feeling again. We want to have the feeling of elation you get from reaching a final. So that’s a big driver for us” Ross continued.
Experienced playing in usual surroundings
Ross hopes that being playing in an empty Hampden before – in the loss to Hearts – could give Hibernian an advantage over St Johnstone, who have not played there this season.
Manager Jack Ross watches a Hibernian training session (Photo by Mark Scates/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“Broaden it out a little bit, we’ve had that taste, that experience of playing at the national stadium in the most strange circumstances. There’s no crowd, no crowd noises piped in. There’s very few people in the stadium, and they are very far away from the players.
“There is no noise whatsoever. It’s slightly eerie, but we’ve obviously experienced it. Slightly similar kick-off time we experienced before as well, so hopefully that should stand us in good stead” Ross concluded.