Hibs pile the pressure on UEFA rivals Motherwell

HIBS boss Mixu Paatelainen today turned up the heat on Euro rivals Motherwell by insisting next season's UEFA Cup place is theirs to lose.

The Fir Park outfit remain in pole position to take third place in the SPL table, a point ahead of both Dundee United and Hibs but now with just one game in hand following last night's defeat by Rangers.

Paatelainen was at Ibrox to see Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson score the only goal of the game as Walter Smith's side cut Celtic's advantage in the race for the championship to just four points.

But, while the result didn't, in essence, change the task facing Hibs as they attempt to overhaul Motherwell, Paatelainen declared that simply being involved in the battle for the last European place was a bonus as far as he was concerned.

He said: "We've been given this opportunity by Motherwell and Dundee United. When I became Hibs manager in January I looked at the table and I felt they were so far ahead the possibility of us even to be fighting for third place was maybe out of reach.

"However, two factors have come into play. Motherwell and Dundee United have thrown away so many points and our players have done so well we have been given this chance.

"Motherwell played well last night but Rangers are a strong team, they are going for the title and ground out their win.

"It's not entirely in our hands but I think the pressure is on Motherwell. They have been in pole position, been away from the pack for so long but now the pack has caught them.

"Everyone is looking to overtake them and I believe we have as good a chance as anyone if we can stay unbeaten in our last two matches."

With the first of those games being Celtic in Glasgow on Sunday, Gordon Strachan's side rejuvenated as they find themselves ahead of their arch-rivals although Rangers have two games in hand, Paatelainen conceded that target was "a big ask."

But he pointed out that both Motherwell, who still have Rangers to play again, Aberdeen, who harbour an outside hope of taking third place themselves, and a visit to Easter Road to come, and Dundee United, still to play both sides of the Old Firm, have equally difficult schedules.

He said: "The remaining fixtures for everyone are tricky. But I have to state very clearly, I am not bothered how other teams do.

"If we do our best, play as well as we can and other teams end above us then all credit to them as they will have deserved it. All we can do is look after ourselves and if someone does better than us then we'll aim to finish above them next season."

Paatelainen, meanwhile, hailed the announcement of Steven Fletcher as the Scottish Football Writers' Association young player of the year award – the third Hibs star to earn that accolade in four years – as recognition of the Easter Road outfit's outstanding youth system.

He said: "Steven deserved the award, he has done well this season and been one of our main players.

"But it also tells you a lot about our youth policy. Youngsters know we will give them the chance."