Tam McManus in lofty Hibs prediction as star singled out for Ross County display

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Tam McManus expects Hibs to start moving up the table after sorting their form out.

The Hibees have moved away from the bottom of the league having lost just once in their last four games after the debacle of being thumped 4-1 away to Dundee.

They’ve since earned a battling draw with Aberdeen and victories over Motherwell and Ross County with just one defeat in that time, at Celtic Park.

David Gray’s side now sit eighth in the Premiership and just six points behind St Mirren in sixth.

Despite the improved result, the performance against the Staggies wasn’t great and pundit Mark Wilson reckons Hibs are still in relegation danger.

While Michael Stewart admitted he was still ‘anxious’ about the Hibees and in particular goalkeeper Jordan Smith.

But McManus is taking a more optimistic view.

• READ MORE: What David Gray has said on Hibs’ out-of-contract stars and January transfer plans

McManus says Hibs can start to look to top six

Hibs were poor in the first half against County, trailing 1-0 until Dwight Gayle’s equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Visiting boss Don Cowie was furious about that after only five minutes had been indicated.

McManus acknowledges his old side weren’t at the races in the first half but says the attacking threat they have will see them rise up the table.

Speaking on PLZ Soccer, he said: “First-half they (Hibs) were hopeless. Ross County were by far the better team.

“They started the game well, went 1-0 up. Hibs were terrible. No cohesion, didn’t create anything.

“Right on half-time, and I understand Don Cowie being angry because I think they’d played five minutes of injury time which went up on the board, and Hibs scored after that.

“That changed the whole complexion of the game. From Hibs getting booed off, the supporters were quite happy. Not with the performance but to go in level-pegging.

“Hibs were much better second half. Elie Youan had one of the best games I’ve seen him play. Scored a goal and created one.

“Hibs looked a threat in the final third, deserved to win the game. They had to hang on at 2-1. Ross County were bombarding them, I think they had 15 corners, bombarding the goalkeeper who stood up to it.

“Massive result. If you lose that one, similar to Hearts you’re thinking ‘we’re in a relegation battle.’

“But I think looking at Hibs and the quality they’ve got they can start looking to the top six.”

Wilson has doubts about Hibs

Asked where Hibs could finish in the league come May, Wilson replied: “I said at the start of the season, if they keep defending the way they are, they will be down the bottom and relegation candidates.

“They just can’t sort out their backline, that’s the problem. They’ll always score goals but their two full-backs for me are erratic and let people inside them.

“Their two centre-halves – even last season to this season – you’ll always get a chance against them somehow, or there’ll be a calamity in there.

“How can you win games if you can’t trust your backline and the goalkeeper you’re changing every second or third game?”