The Manager, Barry, Nicky, Willo on RedTV
“I think it’s going to be a tough match. They are in a fantastic bit of form at the moment, the biggest compliment I can pay Terry Butcher and his team is that I am not surprised they have improved. He finds ways to win games and his players look as if they are well versed in what he demands. Hibs have always had good players but I think they have an identity now and it’s not to dissimilar to how his Inverness team played. I think Hibs will expect a tough match from us as we are in decent form so it’s two clubs who have good support and hopefully they will all come out and make the game that bit more special.
“I think our players deserve so much credit. They’ve had a real focus on the job at hand recently, a real good run, seven wins out of eight and that’s good going when the games are coming thick and fast. We’ve managed to keep that concentration and we’re looking forward to getting back to playing at Pittodrie. Our last performance here against Ross County was good so hopefully we’ll have a similar outcome on Friday.
“We’ve got to maintain our focus. We’ve got to keep working as hard as we have done. There are good teams in and around us and they’ll be itching to be that team in 2nd place. For us it’s just concentrating on the next game which offers another potential three points for us.
“Everybody is fit after Sunday which is really pleasing. Craig Murray comes back in to the squad after missing the game at Kilmarnock with a bug.
“Nicky Weaver has made a lot of sacrifices both financially and in his personal life to be here and he is a fantastic member of the squad. He brings that level of experience and knowledge and I think we are fortunate to have him. I am looking forward to working with him. He is obviously keen to play more but as goalkeepers you have to be really supportive to the guy in front of you and Nicky has done that.
“Lawrence Shankland has joined Dunfermline until the end of the season. Scott Rumsby has extended his spell at Stranraer, after doing extremely well there. Jamie Masson will also join Elgin on loan until the end of the season with the hope he can gain some experience and development away from Under 20 level.
“I am really happy with the squad as it stands but in terms of looking at anything else it would be remise of us not to keep our ear to the ground and keep abreast of any situation that may develop. I will always be interested in players who I think can help us achieve what I think we can achieve this season. I think the boys have really applied themselves well and there’s a good spirit amongst the team but if there was someone who could help us I would certainly ask the question.”
“It’s going to be tough. Hibs have started to come and play really well since they got a new manager. They’re looking pretty dangerous, well organised, fit and strong so it’s going to be a tough game.
“They’ve got good players and I think when a new mangers comes in you always get a reaction right away and then it’s about sustaining that and it looks like they’ve had that reaction and now they’ve managed to sustain it as well.So we know how tough it is going to be, still a dangerous side with good players. We’ve been working all week on Hibs and what we are going to do- we’ll be well prepared for them coming.
“We are in a good position at the moment. It’s hard to get to that position but it’s even harder to stay there. We know this is the business end of the season coming and there’s a lot of pressure on us. Home games can be tough sometimes- some teams want to come and sit in against us and we need to break them down. I’m sure Hibs won’t do that. We’ll be prepared whatever they’ve got and we’ll be organised and ready for them.
“There’s a real sense that we have got ourselves into a good position and it would be such a shame to waste that position from here. That brings a hunger to the work that we do on the training field and it brings a real determination to what we do out on the pitch. Again, the game at Tannadice underlined that.
“If we couldn’t handle pressure, we could well have buckled after going a goal down.
“But I don’t think the players really feel that pressure. At this moment in time we can’t wait for the games come around quick enough and you’d much rather be in that camp than the other one! What we have to do now is keep on picking up the results and that won’t be easy this evening against Hibs who are in good form themselves at the moment.
“The manager will have us well prepared for the game, but at the moment, it’s very much about what we do. We are playing well, we are carrying out our game plans and so long as we can keep doing that, we have very chance of winning more games.
“It’s all about maintaining good habits, maintaining focus and not getting ahead of ourselves.
“We are on a good run and every win breads confidence. We have been keeping clean sheets which means we only have to nick a goal. It has been a busy period and a bit tiring but for me personally the will to win keeps me going.
“We have a very fit squad. Even the older guys like Barry and Russell are always at the top of the running (charts). There example rubs off on the younger lads because they now know what level they have to be at if they want to stay in the game for a long time. The young boys look up to good professionals and we certainly have plenty of them at this club.
“It is a good dressing room. The main strength of this squad is the togetherness. Also ability. There is no lack of ability throughout the whole squad. There is a winning mentality in that dressing room. The manager is also has had mentality. We only take one game at a time. That has worked for us so far this season so we will keep it that way.”
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